EX-4.38 3 kmi-2019x10kxexh438.htm EXHIBIT 4.38
Exhibit 4.38
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES OF KINDER MORGAN, INC.
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The following information is a summary description of the 1.500% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “notes due 2022”) and the 2.250% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “notes due 2027” and, collectively, the “notes”) and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture, dated March 1, 2012, between KMI and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “Indenture”), and the Certificate of the Vice President and Treasurer and Vice President and Secretary of KMI establishing the terms of the notes due 2022 and the notes due 2027, which are each incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.38 is a part (the “Form 10-K”).
General
The notes are not entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund.
We may issue and sell additional notes of each series in the future with the same terms as the notes (except for the offering price, issue date and, if applicable, the initial interest payment date) without the consent of the holders of any series of notes. Any such additional notes will constitute a single series of notes under the Indenture.
Principal, Maturity and Interest
The notes due 2022 will mature on March 16, 2022, unless redeemed sooner as described below. Interest on such notes will accrue at the rate of 1.500% per year and will be payable annually in arrears on March 16 of each year, which commenced March 16, 2016. We will make each interest payment on the notes to the person in whose name such notes are registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding March 1, whether or not such date is a business day.
The notes due 2027 will mature on March 16, 2027, unless redeemed sooner as described below. Interest on such notes will accrue at the rate of 2.250% per year and will be payable annually in arrears on March 16 of each year, which commenced March 16, 2016. We will make each interest payment on the notes to the person in whose name such notes are registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding March 1, whether or not such date is a business day.
Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the notes, to but excluding the next scheduled interest payment date. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association.
If any interest payment date, maturity date or redemption date falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on the next business day, and no interest will accrue for the period from and after such interest payment date, maturity date or redemption date.
Guarantees
On November 26, 2014, we entered into a cross guarantee agreement with substantially all of our wholly owned subsidiaries (the “subsidiary guarantors”) whereby each party to the agreement, including us, agrees to unconditionally guarantee the indebtedness of each other party to the agreement. As a result, the subsidiary guarantors will fully and unconditionally guarantee the full and prompt payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the notes when and as the payment becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or otherwise. For more information, see “Guarantee of Securities of Subsidiaries” in the notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in the Form 10-K.

Exhibit 4.38
Ranking
The indebtedness evidenced by the notes is unsecured and ranks equally in right of payment with all of our and the subsidiary guarantors’ other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding, including indebtedness under our revolving credit agreement and our and the subsidiary guarantors’ outstanding series of senior notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated to any of our secured debt and the secured debt of the subsidiary guarantors, from time to time outstanding, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.
The Indenture does not limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness or contain provisions that would afford holders of notes protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in our credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction. Accordingly, we could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at that time or otherwise adversely affect our capital structure or credit rating.
Issuance in Euro; Payment on the Notes
Initial holders were required to pay for the notes in euro, and all payments of principal of, the redemption price (if any), and interest and additional amounts (as defined below, if any), on the notes, will be payable in euro, provided, that if on or after the date of the prospectus supplement, the euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or if the euro is no longer being used by the then member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro is again available to us or so used. The amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate mandated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as of the close of business on the second business day prior to the relevant payment date or, in the event the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the most recent U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate published in The Wall Street Journal on or prior to the second business day prior to the relevant payment date. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the notes or the Indenture governing the notes. Neither the trustee nor the paying agent shall have any responsibility for any calculation or conversion in connection with the foregoing.
Investors are subject to foreign exchange risks as to payments of principal and interest that may have important economic and tax consequences to them. See Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K.
Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar
Elavon Financial Services Limited, UK Branch is the initial paying agent and transfer agent for the notes. Elavon Financial Services Limited is the initial security registrar for the notes. Upon notice to the trustee, we may change any paying agent or security registrar.
We undertake that, to the extent permitted by law, we will maintain a paying agent in a Member State of the European Union (if any) that will not require withholding or deduction of tax pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced to conform to, such European Council Directive.
Business Day
The term “business day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, (1) which is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or London are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close and (2) on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer system (the TARGET2 system), or any successor thereto, is open.
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Exhibit 4.38
Optional Redemption
We may redeem the notes at our option, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

• | 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; or

• | the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) at the applicable Comparable Government Bond Rate (as defined below), plus 20 basis points in the case of the notes due 2022 and plus 30 basis points in the case of the notes due 2027.

In each case, we will pay accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption.
Installments of interest on notes being redeemed that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date shall be payable on the interest payment date to the holders as of the close of business on the relevant regular record date according to the notes and the Indenture.
“Comparable Government Bond” means, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by us, a German government bond whose maturity is closest to the maturity of the notes being redeemed, or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, German government bonds selected by us, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.
“Comparable Government Bond Rate” means the price, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, with 0.0005 being rounded upwards), at which the gross redemption yield on the notes, if they were to be purchased at such price on the third business day prior to the date fixed for redemption, would be equal to the gross redemption yield on such business day of the Comparable Government Bond on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such business day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by us.
Notice of redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of the notes to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice of redemption for the notes will state, among other things, the amount of notes to be redeemed, the redemption date, and the manner in which the redemption price will be calculated and the place or places that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on any notes that have been called for redemption at the redemption date. If less than all of the notes of a series are to be redeemed, the notes of such series to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with applicable depositary procedures; provided, however, that no notes of a principal amount of 100,000 euro or less shall be redeemed in part.
The notes of each series are also subject to redemption prior to maturity if certain changes in U.S. tax law occur. If such changes occur, the notes may be redeemed at a redemption price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. See “—Redemption for Tax Reasons.”
Payment of Additional Amounts
All payments of principal and interest in respect of the notes will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges of
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Exhibit 4.38
whatsoever nature required to be deducted or withheld by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States, unless such withholding or deduction is required by law.
In the event any withholding or deduction on payments in respect of the notes for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge is required to be deducted or withheld by the United States or any taxing authority thereof or therein, we will pay such additional amounts on the notes as will result in receipt by each beneficial owner of a note that is not a U.S. Person (as defined below) of such amounts (after all such withholding or deduction, including on any additional amounts) as would have been received by such beneficial owner had no such withholding or deduction been required. We will not be required, however, to make any payment of additional amounts for or on account of:

a) | any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for (1) the existence of any present or former connection (other than a connection arising solely from the ownership of those notes or the receipt of payments in respect of those notes) between that holder (or the beneficial owner for whose benefit such holder holds such note), or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary of, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, that holder or beneficial owner (if that holder or beneficial owner is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the United States, including that holder or beneficial owner, or that fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor, being or having been a citizen or resident or treated as a resident of the United States or being or having been engaged in trade or business or present in the United States or having had a permanent establishment in the United States or (2) the presentation of a note for payment on a date more than 30 days after the later of the date on which that payment becomes due and payable and the date on which payment is duly provided for;

b) | any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, capital gains, excise, personal property, wealth or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

c) | any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on foreign personal holding company income or by reason of the beneficial owner’s past or present status as a passive foreign investment company, a controlled foreign corporation, a foreign tax exempt organization or a personal holding company with respect to the United States or as a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

d) | any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding or deducting from payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such notes;

e) | any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any note if that payment can be made without withholding by any other paying agent;

f) | any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for the failure of a beneficial owner or any holder of notes to comply with our request or a request of our agent to satisfy certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connections with the United States of the beneficial owner or any holder of the notes that such beneficial owner or holder is legally able to deliver (including, but not limited to, the requirement to provide Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, Forms W-8ECI, or any subsequent versions thereof or successor thereto, and including, without limitation, any documentation requirement under an applicable income tax treaty);

g) | any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on interest received by (1) a 10% shareholder (as defined in Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations that may be promulgated thereunder) of us or (2) a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code, or (3) a bank receiving interest described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, to the extent such tax, assessment or other governmental charge would not have been imposed but for the beneficial owner’s status as described in clauses (1) through (3) of this paragraph (g);

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Exhibit 4.38

h) | to any withholding or deduction that is imposed on a payment to an individual and that is required to be made pursuant to any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, any European Union Directive on the taxation of savings;

i) | any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld or deducted under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any amended or successor version of such Sections) (“FATCA”), any regulations or other guidance thereunder, or any agreement (including any intergovernmental agreement) entered into in connection therewith; or any law, regulation or other official guidance enacted in any jurisdiction implementing FATCA or an intergovernmental agreement in respect of FATCA; or

j) | any combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i);

nor will we pay any additional amounts to any beneficial owner or holder of notes who is a fiduciary or partnership to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to that fiduciary or a member of that partnership or a beneficial owner thereof would not have been entitled to the payment of those additional amounts had that beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the beneficial owner of those notes.
As used in the preceding paragraph, “U.S. Person” means any individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States person under any applicable U.S. Treasury regulations), or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
Redemption for Tax Reasons
If, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws (or any regulations or rulings promulgated under the laws) of the United States (or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States), or any change in, or amendments to, an official position regarding the application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, which change or amendment is announced or becomes effective on or after March 9, 2015, we become, or based upon a written opinion of independent counsel selected by us, will become obligated to pay additional amounts as described herein under the heading “—Payments of Additional Amounts” with respect to the notes of either series, then we may at our option redeem, in whole, but not in part, the notes of such series on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, together with interest accrued but unpaid on those notes to the date fixed for redemption.
Open Market Purchases
We may acquire the notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws, so long as such acquisition does not otherwise violate the terms of the Indenture.
Defeasance
At any time we may terminate all our obligations under an Indenture as it relates to the notes of any series, a process commonly called “legal defeasance,” except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust described below, and obligations to register the transfer of or to exchange the notes of that series, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes of that series and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of such notes.
We also at any time may terminate our obligations under covenant restrictions on the debt securities of any series by a process commonly called “covenant defeasance.”
We may exercise our legal defeasance option notwithstanding the prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our legal defeasance option, payment of the notes of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture). If we exercise our covenant defeasance option for the notes of a
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Exhibit 4.38
particular series, payment of the debt securities of that series may not be accelerated because of a failure to perform, or breach of, any term, covenant or warranty in the Indenture, other than a term, covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which has expressly been included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities other than that series, that continues for 90 days after we are given written notice by the trustee or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all the outstanding debt securities of that series.
We may exercise either defeasance option at any time on or following the 91st day after we irrevocably deposit in trust (the “defeasance trust”) with the trustee money, U.S. Government Obligations (as defined below) or a combination thereof for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of the relevant series to redemption or stated maturity, as the case may be, and comply with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel (subject to customary exceptions and exclusions) to the effect that holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred. In the case of legal defeasance only, such opinion of counsel must be based on a ruling of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable federal income tax law.
In the event of any legal defeasance, holders of the debt securities of the relevant series would be entitled to look only to the defeasance trust for payment of principal of and any premium and interest on their debt securities until maturity.
Although the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee would be intended to be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of a defeased series at the time of their stated maturity, if we exercise our covenant defeasance option for the debt securities of any series and the debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the notes of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. However, in that circumstance we would remain liable for such payments.
The term “U.S. Government Obligations” as used in this section shall mean (x) any security that is (i) a direct obligation of the German government or (ii) an obligation of a Person (as defined below) controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the German government the payment of which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the German government or the central bank of the German government, which, in either case (x)(i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in clause (x)(i) or (x)(ii) above or in any specific principal or interest payments due in respect thereof. The term “Person” as used in this paragraph shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership (general or limited), joint venture, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, other entity, unincorporated organization or government, or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
Notices
Notices to holders of the notes will be sent to such holders. Any notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing. So long as the notes are represented by a global security deposited with Elavon Financial Services Limited, or any successor thereto, as the common depositary (the “Common Depositary”) for Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream”) and Euroclear Bank SA/NV (“Euroclear”), notices to holders may be given by delivery to Clearstream and Euroclear, and such notices shall be deemed to be given on the date of delivery to Clearstream and Euroclear. For more information about Clearstream and Euroclear, see “—Clearstream and Euroclear.” The trustee will transmit notices to each registered holder’s last known address as it appears in the security register that the trustee maintains. The trustee will only transmit these notices to the registered holder of the notes. Holders will not receive notices regarding the notes directly from us unless we reissue the notes to holders in fully certificated form.
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Exhibit 4.38
Book-Entry and Settlement
Each series of notes was issued in the form of one or more global securities, in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons, each of which we refer to as a “global security.” Each such global security was deposited with the Common Depositary and registered in the name of the Common Depositary or its nominee. We will not issue certificated securities, except in the limited circumstances described below.
Beneficial interests in the global securities will be represented, and transfers of such beneficial interest will be effected, through accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct or indirect participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Investors may hold beneficial interests in notes directly through Clearstream or Euroclear, if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. The address of Clearstream is 42 Avenue JF Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg, Luxembourg, and the address of Euroclear is 1 Boulevard Roi Albert II, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium.
Beneficial interests in the global securities will be shown on, and transfers of beneficial interests in the global securities will be made only through, records maintained by Clearstream or Euroclear and their participants. When holders purchase notes through the Clearstream or Euroclear systems, the purchases must be made by or through a direct or indirect participant in the Clearstream or Euroclear system, as the case may be. The participant will receive credit for the notes purchased on Clearstream’s or Euroclear’s records, and, upon its receipt of such credit, the holder will become the beneficial owner of those notes. Ownership interest will be recorded only on the records of the direct or indirect participant in Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, through which holders purchased the notes and not on Clearstream’s or Euroclear’s records. Neither Clearstream nor Euroclear, as the case may be, will have any knowledge of holders’ beneficial ownership of the notes. Clearstream’s or Euroclear’s records will show only the identity of the direct participants and the amount of the notes held by or through those direct participants. Holders will not receive a written confirmation of the purchase or sale or any periodic account statement directly from Clearstream or Euroclear. Holders should instead receive those documents from the direct or indirect participant in Clearstream or Euroclear through which holders purchased the notes. As a result, the direct or indirect participants are responsible for keeping accurate account of the holdings of their customers. The paying agent will wire payments on the notes to the Common Depositary as the holder of the global securities. The trustee, the paying agent and we will treat the Common Depositary or any successor nominee to the Common Depositary as the owner of the global securities for all purposes. Accordingly, the trustee, the paying agent and we will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due with respect to the global securities to holders or any other beneficial owners in the global securities. Any redemption or other notices with respect to the notes will be sent by us directly to Clearstream or Euroclear, which will, in turn, inform the direct participants (or the indirect participants), which will then contact the holder as a beneficial holder, all in accordance with the rules of Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, and the internal procedures of the direct participant (or the indirect participant) through which beneficial interest in the notes are held. Euroclear and Clearstream will credit payments to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants or Clearstream customers in accordance with the relevant system’s rules and procedures, to the extent received by its depositary. Euroclear and Clearstream have established their procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among participants of Euroclear and Clearstream. However, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and they may discontinue or change those procedures at any time.
Initial Settlement
Initial settlement was made in accordance with the settlement procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form. The notes were credited to the securities custody accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear holders on the settlement date on a delivery against payment basis. None of the notes may be held through, no trades of the notes were settled through, and no payments with respect to the notes will be made through The Depository Trust Company in the United States of America.
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Exhibit 4.38
Secondary Market Trading
Any secondary market trading of book-entry interests in the notes will take place through participants in Clearstream and Euroclear in accordance with the normal rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form.
It is important to establish at the time of trading of any notes where both the purchaser’s and seller’s accounts are located to ensure that settlement can be made on the desired value date.
Investors will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Euroclear and Clearstream on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Euroclear and Clearstream on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the notes, or to make or receive a payment or delivery of the notes, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Euroclear or Clearstream is used.
Clearstream and Euroclear
We have obtained the information in this section concerning Clearstream and Euroclear, and the book-entry system and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
Clearstream has advised us that it is a limited liability company organized under Luxembourg law. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Clearstream is registered as a bank in Luxembourg, and as such is subject to regulation by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. Clearstream participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is available to other institutions that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant.
Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries.
Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank SA/NV (or the “Euroclear Operator”), under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (or “the Cooperative”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.
The Euroclear Operator is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission. Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the terms and conditions governing
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Exhibit 4.38
use of Euroclear and the related operating procedures of the Euroclear system, and applicable Belgian law. These terms and conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the terms and conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.
Under Belgian law, the Euroclear Operator is required to pass on the benefits of ownership in any interests in securities on deposit with it, such as dividends, voting rights and other entitlements, to any person credited with such interests in securities on its records.
Certificated Notes
Subject to certain conditions, the notes represented by the global securities are exchangeable for certificated notes in definitive form of like tenor in minimum denominations of €100,000 principal amount and integral multiples of 1,000 euro in excess thereof if:

• | the Common Depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if the Common Depositary ceases to be eligible under the Indenture and we do not appoint a successor depository within 90 days;

• | we determine that the notes will no longer be represented by global securities and execute and deliver to the trustee an order to that effect; or

• | an event of default with respect to the notes will have occurred and be continuing.

Any note that is exchangeable as above is exchangeable for certificated notes issuable in authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Common Depositary shall direct. Subject to the foregoing, a global security is not exchangeable, except for a global security of the same aggregate denomination to be registered in the name of the Common Depositary or its nominee.
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