8-K
NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP /DE/ false 0001133421 0001133421 2021-09-02 2021-09-02

 

 

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):

September 2, 2021

 

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-16411   80-0640649

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

2980 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(703) 280-2900

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

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

 

 

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

 

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock   NOC   New York Stock Exchange

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

Emerging growth company

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Exchange Offers

On September 2, 2021 (the “Settlement Date”), Northrop Grumman Corporation (the “Company”) completed its previously announced offers to exchange (the “Exchange Offers”) any and all outstanding (i) 7.875% Debentures due 2026 (the “Existing 7.875% 2026 Notes”), (ii) 7.750% Debentures due 2026 (the “Existing 7.750% 2026 Notes”), (iii) 6.650% Debentures due 2028 (the “Existing 6.650% 2028 Notes”), (iv) 7.750% Debentures due 2029 (the “Existing 7.750% 2029 Notes”), (v) 7.750% Debentures due 2031 (the “Existing 7.750% 2031 Notes”) and (vi) 6.980% Debentures due 2036 (the “Existing 6.980% 2036 Notes” and, together with the Existing 7.875% 2026 Notes, the Existing 7.750% 2026 Notes, the Existing 6.650% 2028 Notes, the Existing 7.750% 2029 Notes and the Existing 7.750% 2031 Notes, the “Existing Notes”) of the Company’s direct, wholly-owned subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“NGSC”), for (1) new notes (as described below) issued by the Company and (2) cash. Pursuant to the Exchange Offers, the following aggregate principal amounts of Existing Notes were tendered and accepted and will be subsequently canceled:

 

  (i)

$76,490,000 in aggregate principal amount of Existing 7.875% 2026 Notes;

 

  (ii)

$47,828,000 in aggregate principal amount of Existing 7.750% 2026 Notes;

 

  (iii)

$38,859,000 in aggregate principal amount of Existing 6.650% 2028 Notes;

 

  (iv)

$79,323,000 in aggregate principal amount of Existing 7.750% 2029 Notes;

 

  (v)

$166,872,000 in aggregate principal amount of Existing 7.750% 2031 Notes; and

 

  (vi)

$12,300,000 in aggregate principal amount of Existing 6.980% 2036 Notes.

Following such cancellation, NGSC will have outstanding (i) $193,360,000 aggregate principal amount of Existing 7.875% 2026 Notes, (ii) $208,861,000 aggregate principal amount of Existing 7.750% 2026 Notes, (iii) $2,346,000 aggregate principal amount of Existing 6.650% 2028 Notes, (iv) $10,617,000 aggregate principal amount of Existing 7.750% 2029 Notes, (v) $299,618,000 aggregate principal amount of Existing 7.750% 2031 Notes and (vi) $34,715,000 aggregate principal amount of Existing 6.980% 2036 Notes.

Pursuant to the Exchange Offers, in addition to issuing the new notes described below, the Company paid aggregate cash consideration of $2,108,710 (representing the aggregate $2,108,360 in cash consideration and $350 in cash in lieu of any fractional portion of New Notes) to holders of Existing Notes who validly tendered and did not validly withdraw their Existing Notes in the Exchange Offers.

New Northrop Grumman Corporation Notes

Pursuant to the Exchange Offers, the Company issued (i) $76,490,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “7.875% 2026 Notes”), (ii) $47,828,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “7.750% 2026 Notes”), (iii) $38,859,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.650% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), (iv) $79,323,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”), (v) $166,864,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”) and (vi) $12,300,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.980% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “2036 Notes” and, together with the 7.875% 2026 Notes, the 7.750% 2026 Notes, the 2028 Notes, the 2029 Notes and the 2031 Notes, the “New Notes”).


The New Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Original Indenture”), dated as of November 21, 2001, as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated as of July 30, 2009 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), the third supplemental indenture, dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), the fourth supplemental indenture, dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”) and the tenth supplemental indenture, dated as of September 2, 2021 (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Trustee”) (the Original Indenture as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).

The 7.875% 2026 Notes are set to mature on March 1, 2026, the 7.750% 2026 Notes are set to mature on March 15, 2026, the 2028 Notes are set to mature on January 15, 2028, the 2029 Notes are set to mature on June 1, 2029, the 2031 Notes are set to mature on February 15, 2031 and the 2036 Notes are set to mature on March 15, 2036, unless redeemed earlier as applicable. With the exception of the 7.875% 2026 Notes, the Company may redeem New Notes of any series at its option, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the applicable redemption price, as described in the applicable form of New Note.

The Indenture governing the New Notes contains certain covenants, including covenants related to our ability to create liens, engage in certain sale and leaseback transactions and engage in certain transactions and asset sales. These covenants are subject to exceptions and qualifications.

The New Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

The above description of the New Notes does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Original Indenture, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on November 21, 2001, the First Supplemental Indenture, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on July 30, 2009, the Third Supplemental Indenture, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed on April 27, 2011, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, filed as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed on April 27, 2011, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1, and the Forms of 7.875% 2026 Notes, 7.750% 2026 Notes, 2028 Notes, 2029 Notes, 2031 Notes and 2036 Notes attached hereto as Exhibits 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7, respectively, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the issuance of the New Notes, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement, dated as of the Settlement Date (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), by and between the Company, as issuer, and the dealer managers named therein, which will give holders of the New Notes certain exchange and registration rights with respect to the New Notes. If the Company fails to satisfy its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, it may be required to pay additional interest on the New Notes in certain circumstances. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is filed as Exhibit 4.8 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.


Consent Solicitations

In connection with the Exchange Offers, the Company solicited the consents (the “Consent Solicitations”) of the holders of the Existing Notes to amend the indentures governing such Existing Notes to remove certain restrictive and reporting covenants, as well as to terminate the guarantee of the Existing Notes by the Company. As previously announced, the Company received the requisite consents in the Consent Solicitations sufficient to adopt the proposed amendments and the guarantee termination in respect of the Existing 6.650% 2028 Notes and the Existing 7.750% 2029 Notes (but not with respect to any other Existing Notes), which amendments were effected pursuant to supplemental indentures and an amendment to guarantee entered into on August 25, 2021. As a result of the completion of the Exchange Offers, the amendments with respect to the Existing 6.650% 2028 Notes and the Existing 7.750% 2029 Notes became operative and the guarantee of such notes by the Company was terminated. The Existing Notes are the senior unsecured obligations of NGSC and the Existing 7.875% 2026 Notes, the Existing 7.750% 2026 Notes, the Existing 7.750% 2031 Notes and the Existing 6.980% 2036 Notes remain guaranteed by the Company.

 

Item 2.03

Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

4.1    Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 2, 2021, between Northrop Grumman Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, Trustee, to Indenture dated as of November 21, 2001
4.2    Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026 (included in Exhibit 4.1)
4.3    Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026 (included in Exhibit 4.1)
4.4    Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028 (included in Exhibit 4.1)
4.5    Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029 (included in Exhibit 4.1)
4.6    Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031 (included in Exhibit 4.1)
4.7    Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036 (included in Exhibit 4.1)
4.8    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 2, 2021, between Northrop Grumman Corporation and BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as dealer managers
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURE

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

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By:  

/s/ Jennifer C. McGarey

  Name: Jennifer C. McGarey
  Title: Corporate Vice President and Secretary

Date: September 3, 2021

EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

AND

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, TRUSTEE

 

 

TENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of September 2, 2021

to

INDENTURE

Dated as of November 21, 2001

as amended and supplemented by the

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of July 30, 2009

THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of March 30, 2011

FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of March 30, 2011

 

 

7.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026

7.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026

6.650% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2028

7.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029

7.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2031

6.980% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2036


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

Article I DEFINITIONS

     2

Article II ESTABLISHMENT OF 7.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026, 7.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026, 6.650% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2028, 7.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029, 7.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2031, AND 6.980% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2036

     4

201.

   Establishment and Designation of the Notes      4

202.

   Principal Amount of the Notes; Maturity      5

203.

   Form of Notes; Denominations; Depositary      5

204.

   Payment      9

205.

   Interest Rate      10

206.

   Paying Agent and Security Registrar      11

207.

   No Sinking Fund      11

208.

   Optional Redemption      11

209.

   Exchange of the Notes      11

210.

   Rule 144A Information      11

211.

   Authentication of the Notes      12

Article III MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     12

301.

   Effect of Tenth Supplemental Indenture      12

302.

   Effective Date      12

303.

   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      12

304.

   Successors and Assigns      12

305.

   Separability Clause      13

306.

   Counterparts      13

307.

   Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals      13

308.

   Governing Law      13

309.

   Applicable Tax Law      13

EXHIBIT A

   Form of 7.875% Senior Notes due 2026   

EXHIBIT B

   Form of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2026   

EXHIBIT C

   Form of 6.650% Senior Notes due 2028   

EXHIBIT D

   Form of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2029   

EXHIBIT E

   Form of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2031   

EXHIBIT F

   Form of 6.980% Senior Notes due 2036   

 


This TENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of September 2, 2021 (this “Tenth Supplemental Indenture”) between NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 2980 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, Virginia 22042, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), under the Indenture (as hereinafter defined), having its Corporate Trust Office at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2001 (the “Original Indenture”), the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 30, 2009 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), each of which amends and supplements the Original Indenture;

WHEREAS, Section 901 of the Original Indenture, as amended, provides, among other things, that the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of any Holders, may enter into an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 of the Original Indenture, as amended;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Original Indenture, as amended, the Company desires to provide for the establishment of six new series of its Securities to be known as its “7.875% Senior Notes due 2026” (the “7.875% 2026 Notes”), its “7.750% Senior Notes due 2026” (the “7.750% 2026 Notes”), its “6.650% Senior Notes due 2028” (the “2028 Notes”), its “7.750% Senior Notes due 2029” (the “2029 Notes”), its “7.750% Senior Notes due 2031” (the “2031 Notes”) and its “6.980% Senior Notes due 2036” (the “2036 Notes”), respectively, the form and substance of each such series of Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Original Indenture, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and this Tenth Supplemental Indenture (collectively, the “Indenture”);

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Tenth Supplemental Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter and in the Indenture set forth against payment therefor, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture and make it a valid, binding and legal agreement of the Company, have been done or performed.


NOW, THEREFORE, THIS TENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the promises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

Article I

DEFINITIONS

Unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used but not defined in this Tenth Supplemental Indenture shall have the respective meaning ascribed to them by the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture. The following additional terms are hereby established for purposes of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture and shall have the meaning set forth in this Tenth Supplemental Indenture only for purposes of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture:

“2028 Global Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(a) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“2029 Global Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(a) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“2031 Global Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(a) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“2036 Global Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(a) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“2028 Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“2029 Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“2031 Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“2036 Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“7.750% 2026 Global Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(a) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“7.875% 2026 Global Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(a) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“7.750% 2026 Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

 

2


“7.875% 2026 Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Additional Interest” means, in respect of any series of Notes, the additional interest then owing on such series of Notes pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

“Additional Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 201 of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Agent Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(e)(i) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Applicable Tax Law” has the meaning set forth in Section 309 of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Exchange Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(e)(iii) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Exchange Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(e)(iii) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“First Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Fourth Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Global Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(a) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Global Notes Legend” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(c) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Initial Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(a) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Interest Payment Date”, in respect of any series of Notes, has the meaning set forth in Section 205 of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Notes” means, with respect to any series of Securities established hereby, the Initial Notes of such series, the Exchange Notes of such series and any Additional Notes of such series, treated as a single class.

“Original Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

 

3


“QIB Global Note” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(c) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“QIBs” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(c) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 2, 2021, among the Company, BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities LLC, and any similar agreement entered into in connection with any Additional Notes.

“Regular Record Date”, in respect of any series of Notes, has the meaning set forth in Section 205 of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Regulation S” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(c) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Regulation S Global Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(c) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Restricted Note” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(d) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Restricted Notes Legend” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(d) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Rule 144A” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(c) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(c) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Third Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the recitals of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Unrestricted Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(e)(iv) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

Article II

ESTABLISHMENT OF 7.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026, 7.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026, 6.650% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2028, 7.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029, 7.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2031, AND 6.980% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2036

 

201.

Establishment and Designation of the Notes

Pursuant to the terms hereof and Section 301 of the Original Indenture, the Company hereby establishes six new series of Securities, the first series designated as the “7.875% Senior Notes due 2026,” the second series designated as the “7.750% Senior Notes due 2026,” the third series designated as the “6.650% Senior Notes due 2028,” the fourth series designated as the

 

4


“7.750% Senior Notes due 2029,” the fifth series designated as the “7.750% Senior Notes due 2031,” and the sixth series designated as the “6.980% Senior Notes due 2036.” Any such series may be reopened, from time to time, for issuances of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Securities of such series (with respect to such series, the “Additional Notes”). Any such Additional Notes shall have the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms of the series being reopened, except, if applicable, the issue date, the issue price, the initial Interest Payment Date and corresponding initial Regular Record Date and the initial interest accrual date. Any such Additional Notes, together with the Notes of the series being reopened (including any Exchange Notes and other Additional Notes of such series), shall constitute a single series of Securities for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting, waivers, amendments and redemptions; provided, however, that in the event any such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes of the series being reopened for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such nonfungible Additional Notes shall be issued with a separate CUSIP number so that they are distinguishable from the Notes of the series being reopened.

 

202.

Principal Amount of the Notes; Maturity

The maximum aggregate principal amount of the Notes of each series which may be authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Indenture (except for (i) Notes of such series authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes of such series pursuant to Section 203(e) of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture or Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 of the Original Indenture, (ii) Notes which, pursuant to Section 303 of the Original Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered under the Indenture, and (iii) for avoidance of doubt, Additional Notes) is $76,490,000 in respect of the 7.875% 2026 Notes, $47,828,000 in respect of the 7.750% 2026 Notes, $38,859,000 in respect of the 2028 Notes, $79,323,000 in respect of the 2029 Notes, $166,864,000 in respect of the 2031 Notes and $12,300,000 in respect of the 2036 Notes. The principal amount of the 7.875% 2026 Notes shall be due and payable on March 1, 2026; the principal amount of the 7.750% 2026 Notes shall be due and payable on March 15, 2026; the principal amount of the 2028 Notes shall be due and payable on January 15, 2028; the principal amount of the 2029 Notes shall be due and payable on June 1, 2029; the principal amount of the 2031 Notes shall be due and payable on February 15, 2031; and the principal amount of the 2036 Notes shall be due and payable on March 15, 2036.

 

203.

Form of Notes; Denominations; Depositary

(a) On the date hereof, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver initial Securities (together with any Additional Notes of such series, if any, issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the “Initial Notes”) in the form of Global Notes (as defined below) of each applicable series. The 7.875% 2026 Notes shall be initially issued in the form of one or more Global Securities (the “7.875% 2026 Global Notes”) in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto. The 7.750% 2026 Notes shall be initially issued in the form of one or more Global Securities (the “7.750% 2026 Global Notes”) in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto. The 2028 Notes shall be initially issued in the form of one or more Global Securities (the “2028 Global Notes”) in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto. The 2029 Notes shall be initially issued in the form of one or more Global Securities (the “2029 Global Notes”) in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit D

 

5


hereto. The 2031 Notes shall be initially issued in the form of one or more Global Securities (the “2031 Global Notes”) in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit E hereto. The 2036 Notes shall be initially issued in the form of one or more Global Securities (the “2036 Global Notes” and, together with the 7.875% 2026 Global Notes, the 7.750% 2026 Global Notes, the 2028 Global Notes, the 2029 Global Notes and the 2031 Global Notes, the “Global Notes”) in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit F hereto. The Notes shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(b) The initial Depositary in respect of the Global Notes shall be The Depository Trust Company. The Global Notes shall be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co. Except as otherwise set forth in herein or Section 305 of the Original Indenture, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole or in part, only to the Depositary, another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or its nominee.

(c) The Initial Notes being issued on the date hereof are being issued by the Company only to (i) persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” (“QIBs”) (as defined in Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) and (ii) persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act. Initial Notes of each series that are offered in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes substantially in the form of the applicable form of Note attached hereto (each, a “QIB Global Note”) bearing the Restricted Notes Legend (as defined below) and the Global Note legend in the first paragraph of the face of the forms of Note attached hereto (the “Global Notes Legend”). Initial Notes of each series that are offered in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes substantially in the form of the applicable form of Note attached hereto (each, a “Regulation S Global Note”) bearing the Restricted Notes Legend, the Global Notes Legend, and the legends in the fourth, fifth and sixth paragraphs of the face of each Regulation S Global Note. The QIB Global Note and the Regulation S Global Note with respect to each series of Notes shall be issued with separate CUSIP numbers. The aggregate principal amount of each Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as Security Registrar. Transfers of Notes of an applicable series between QIBs and to or by purchasers pursuant to Regulation S shall be represented by appropriate increases or decreases to the respective amounts of the appropriate Global Notes, as more fully provided in paragraph (d) below.

(d) Restricted Notes Legend. Unless and until (i) a restricted note, as defined in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act (a “Restricted Note”), is exchanged for an Exchange Note (as defined below) or sold in connection with an effective shelf registration statement or (ii) the Company determines and there is delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the legend in the second and third paragraphs of the face of the forms of Note attached hereto (the “Restricted Notes Legend”), and the related restrictions on transfer are not required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act, each Global Note and each definitive Security (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution therefor) shall bear the applicable Restricted Notes Legend.

 

6


(e) Special Transfer Provisions. Unless and until (i) a Restricted Note is exchanged for an Exchange Note or sold in connection with an effective registration statement or (ii) the Restricted Notes Legend is no longer required pursuant to paragraph (d) above, the following provisions shall apply:

(i) Transfers to QIBs. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of beneficial interests in a Restricted Note (other than pursuant to Regulation S):

 

  (A)

The Security Registrar shall register the transfer of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Note by a Holder that is not a Depositary to a QIB if such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has provided the Security Registrar with (1) an appropriately completed assignment form and (2) a signed representation, in each case in the form of the same attached to the applicable Note.

 

  (B)

If the proposed transferee is a member of, or participant in, the Depositary (an “Agent Member”) and the beneficial interest in a Restricted Note to be transferred consists of an interest in a Regulation S Global Note, upon receipt by the Security Registrar of (1) the items required by paragraph (A) above and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Security Registrar’s procedures therefor, the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the applicable QIB Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note to be so transferred, and the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an appropriate decrease in the principal amount of such Regulation S Global Note.

(ii) Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S. The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Note pursuant to Regulation S:

 

  (A)

The Security Registrar shall register any proposed transfer of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Note pursuant to Regulation S by a Holder upon receipt of (1) an appropriately completed assignment form and (2) a signed representation, in each case in the form of the same attached to the applicable Note.

 

  (B)

If the proposed transferee is an Agent Member and the beneficial interest in a Restricted Note to be transferred consists of an interest in a QIB Global Note, upon receipt by the Security Registrar of (1) the items required by paragraph (A) above and (2) instructions in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Security Registrar’s procedures therefor, the Security Registrar shall reflect on its

 

7


  books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the applicable Regulation S Global Note in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the QIB Global Note to be transferred, and the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an appropriate decrease in the principal amount of such QIB Global Note.

(iii) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of an offer made by the Company to exchange (each, an “Exchange Offer”) Initial Notes or Additional Notes, if any, of a series bearing the Restricted Notes Legend for exchange notes which will be registered under the Securities Act and have terms identical in all material respects to such Initial Notes or such Additional Notes, as the case may be (the “Exchange Notes”), including the Exchange Offers contemplated by a Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall execute a Company Order in accordance with Section 303 of the Original Indenture with respect to each applicable series of Notes, and the Trustee shall authenticate, one or more Global Notes not bearing the Restricted Notes Legend in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Global Notes of each applicable series that are Restricted Notes tendered for acceptance in accordance with the applicable Exchange Offer and accepted for exchange in such Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of such Global Notes, the Security Registrar shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Security Registrar shall cause to be delivered to the Persons designated by the Holders of such Restricted Notes so accepted Global Notes not bearing the Restricted Notes Legend in the appropriate principal amount.

(iv) Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of one or more Notes that do not and are not required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend (“Unrestricted Notes”), the Security Registrar shall deliver Unrestricted Notes that do not bear the Restricted Notes Legend. Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Restricted Notes of any series, other than in exchange for Exchange Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer, the Security Registrar shall cause to be delivered only Restricted Notes that bear the Restricted Notes Legend unless the Restricted Notes Legend is no longer required by paragraph (d) above and there is delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate of the Company, each to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to ensure that subsequent transfers of such Notes are effected in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon receipt of such Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate of the Company, the Trustee shall direct the Security Registrar to exchange the applicable Restricted Notes for Unrestricted Notes of such series with such exchange to occur in accordance with paragraph (v) below (in the case of Global Notes).

(v) Acknowledgement of Transfer Restrictions. By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Restricted Notes Legend, each Holder of such a Note acknowledges receipt of a Restricted Note with the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Tenth Supplemental Indenture and in the Restricted Notes Legend and agrees that it shall transfer such Note only as provided in this Tenth Supplemental Indenture until such time as the Restricted Notes Legend is no longer required pursuant to paragraph (d) above and

 

8


such Holder transfers such a Restricted Note to an Unrestricted Note. The Security Registrar shall not register a transfer of any Note unless such transfer complies with the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Tenth Supplemental Indenture. In connection with any transfer of Notes, each Holder agrees by its acceptance of the Notes to furnish the Trustee, the Security Registrar or the Company such certifications, legal opinions or other information as any of them may reasonably require to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act until such time as the Restricted Notes Legend is no longer required pursuant to paragraph (d) above and such Holder transfers such a Restricted Note to an Unrestricted Note; provided that the Security Registrar shall not be required to determine (but may rely on a determination made by the Company with respect to) the sufficiency of any such certifications, legal opinions or other information.

The Security Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to this paragraph (e) in accordance with its customary procedures.

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

 

204.

Payment

The Company will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. The Company will make all payments of interest on any Global Note in accordance with the arrangements then existing between the Paying Agent and the applicable Depositary, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on any Global Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of such Note for payment. The Company will make all payments of interest on any definitive Note by mailing a check to the address of each Person entitled thereto, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on any definitive Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of such Note for payment.

If any Additional Interest will be due pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement in respect of a series of Notes, prior to the time such Additional Interest is payable, the Company shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee and Paying Agent setting forth the Additional Interest per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of such Notes and the date from which such Additional Interest shall accrue. The Company shall also deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee and the Paying Agent setting forth the date after which such Additional Interest shall cease accruing. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall have any

 

9


responsibility or liability for the determination, verification or calculation of any Additional Interest. All references to any amount of “interest payable” on or with respect to a Note of a series in the Indenture shall be deemed to include any applicable Additional Interest that may be payable on or with respect to such Note.

 

205.

Interest Rate

Interest on the 7.875% 2026 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 7.875% per annum; interest on the 7.750% 2026 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 7.750% per annum; interest on the 2028 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 6.650% per annum; interest on the 2029 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 7.750% per annum; interest on the 2031 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 7.750% per annum; and interest on the 2036 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 6.980% per annum. Interest on the 7.875% 2026 Notes will accrue from September 1, 2021 or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest was paid or duly provided for; interest on the 7.750% 2026 Notes will accrue from March 15, 2021 or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest was paid or duly provided for; interest on the 2028 Notes will accrue from July 15, 2021 or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest was paid or duly provided for; interest on the 2029 Notes will accrue from June 1, 2021 or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest was paid or duly provided for; interest on the 2031 Notes will accrue from August 15, 2021 or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest was paid or duly provided for; and interest on the 2036 Notes will accrue from March 15, 2021 or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest was paid or duly provided for.

Interest on the 7.875% 2026 Notes shall be payable semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1, commencing on March 1, 2022; interest on the 7.750% 2026 Notes shall be payable semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15, commencing on September 15, 2021; interest on the 2028 Notes shall be payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15, commencing on January 15, 2022; interest on the 2029 Notes shall be payable semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1, commencing on December 1, 2021; interest on the 2031 Notes shall be payable semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15, commencing on February 15, 2022; and interest on the 2036 Notes shall be payable semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15, commencing on September 15, 2021 (each an “Interest Payment Date” for the 7.875% 2026 Notes, the 7.750% 2026 Notes, the 2028 Notes, the 2029 Notes, the 2031 Notes and the 2036 Notes, as applicable), to the Persons in whose names such Notes are registered at the close of business (i) in the case of the 7.875% 2026 Notes, on February 15 and August 15, (ii) in the case of the 7.750% 2026 Notes, on February 28 and August 31 (provided that the interest payable on September 15, 2021 in respect of the 7.750% 2026 Notes shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Notes are registered at the close of business on September 2, 2021), (iii) in the case of the 2028 Notes, on January 1 and July 1, (iv) in the case of the 2029 Notes, on May 15 and November 15, (v) in the case of the 2031 Notes, on February 1 and August 1, and (vi) in the case of the 2036 Notes, on February 28 and August 31 (provided that the interest payable on September 15, 2021 in respect of the 2036 Notes shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Notes are registered at the close of business on September 2, 2021), as the case may be (in any case, whether or not a Business Day), immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date (each a “Regular Record Date” for the 7.875% 2026 Notes, the 7.750% 2026 Notes, the 2028 Notes, the 2029 Notes, the 2031 Notes and the 2036 Notes). Interest on the Notes of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

10


206.

Paying Agent and Security Registrar

The Trustee shall initially act as the Paying Agent and Security Registrar in respect of each series of Notes and its Corporate Trust Office is designated as a place where such Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange. The Company may, however, change the Paying Agent or Security Registrar for such Notes without prior notice to the Holders thereof, and the Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes.

 

207.

No Sinking Fund

The provisions of Article 12 of the Original Indenture shall not be applicable to the Notes of any series established hereby.

 

208.

Optional Redemption

The 7.750% 2026 Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, as set forth in the form of 7.750% 2026 Note attached hereto as Exhibit B. The 2028 Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, as set forth in the form of 2028 Note attached hereto as Exhibit C. The 2029 Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, as set forth in the form of 2028 Note attached hereto as Exhibit D. The 2031 Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, as set forth in the form of 2031 Note attached hereto as Exhibit E. The 2036 Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, as set forth in the form of 2036 Note attached hereto as Exhibit F. The 7.875% 2026 Notes are not subject to redemption and are not redeemable prior to their maturity on March 1, 2026.

 

209.

Exchange of the Notes

In addition to the circumstances set forth in Clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 305 of the Original Indenture, and subject to the arrangements then existing between the Company and the applicable Depositary, the Company may at any time, in its sole discretion, elect to have any Global Note exchanged in whole or in part for Notes of the same series registered in the name or names of Persons other than such Depositary or a nominee thereof.

 

210.

Rule 144A Information

For so long as any of the Notes of a series remain outstanding and constitute Restricted Notes, the Company agrees that, in order to render such Restricted Notes eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A, it will make available, upon request, to any holder of Restricted Notes or prospective purchasers of Restricted Notes of such series, the information specified in Rule 144A(d)(4), unless at such time the Company is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

11


211.

Authentication of the Notes

The Notes may be authenticated by the Trustee by manual or electronic signature.

Article III

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

301.

Effect of Tenth Supplemental Indenture

Upon the execution and delivery of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture by the Company and the Trustee, the Indenture shall be supplemented and amended in accordance herewith, and this Tenth Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes. Except as otherwise provided herein, each and every term and condition contained in this Tenth Supplemental Indenture that modifies, amends or supplements the terms and conditions of the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, shall apply only to the series of Notes established hereby and not to any other series of Securities established under the Indenture.

In the event of a conflict between any provisions of the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, and this Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the relevant provision or provisions of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture shall govern.

Except as supplemented or amended hereby, all other provisions in the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, to the extent not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture, shall remain in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

302.

Effective Date

This Tenth Supplemental Indenture shall be effective as of the date first above written upon the execution and delivery hereof by the Company and the Trustee.

 

303.

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation hereof.

 

304.

Successors and Assigns

All covenants and agreements in this Tenth Supplemental Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

12


305.

Separability Clause

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

 

306.

Counterparts

This Tenth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Tenth Supplemental Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Tenth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

 

307.

Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals

The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

 

308.

Governing Law

This Tenth Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

309.

Applicable Tax Law

In order to comply with applicable tax laws (inclusive of rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) related to the Indenture in effect from time to time (collectively, “Applicable Tax Law”) that a foreign financial institution, issuer, trustee, paying agent or other party is or has agreed to be subject to, the Company agrees (i) upon reasonable written request of the Trustee, to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to the Trustee, to the extent available, sufficient information about Holders or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so that the Trustee can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Tax Law and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction in respect of taxes from payments under the Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Tax Law for which the Trustee shall not have any liability. Nothing in the immediately preceding sentence shall be construed as obligating the Company to make any “gross up” payment or similar reimbursement in connection with a payment in respect of which amounts are so withheld or deducted. The terms of this paragraph shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.

[Signature page follows]

 

13


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

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ David F. Keffer

  Name: David F. Keffer
 

Title:   Corporate Vice President and

            Chief Financial Officer

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Francine Kincaid

  Name: Francine Kincaid
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Tenth Supplemental Indenture]


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF 7.875% 2026 NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.]1

[Restricted Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER

(1) REPRESENTS THAT

(A) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, OR

(B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY

(A) TO NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION,

 

1 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

 

  A-1   Face of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(C) ABOVE OR (2)(D) ABOVE, A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED CERTIFICATE (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE. PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, NORTHROP GRUMMAN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY RULE 144 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.]2

[Regulation S Global Notes Legend]

[BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

 

2 

To be included only if the Note is a Restricted Note.

 

  A-2   Face of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]3

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]4

 

 

 

3 

To be included only if the Note is a Regulation S Global Note.

4 

To be included only if the Depositary is The Depository Trust Company.

 

  A-3   Face of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


CUSIP No.: [666807BV3] /

[U66508AF6]

 

   Principal Amount: $[__________]

No. [A-[__]][S-[__]]

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

7.875% Senior Note due 2026

1. Principal and Interest. NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [________________]5 [CEDE & CO.]6, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________________ Dollars (or such greater or lesser amount as is set forth in Schedule A hereto), on March 1, 2026 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from September 1, 2021 (the “Original Accrual Date”), or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 in each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing March 1, 2022, at the rate of 7.875% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months[; provided that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest (“Additional Interest”) shall accrue on this Note if and to the extent provided for in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement]7. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities to this Note (the “Predecessor Notes”)) is registered at the close of business on the February 15 or August 15 (whether or not a Business Day) (each, a “Regular Record Date”), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as applicable. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to such Person on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Holder in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee under the Indenture, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Interest payable on this Note on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, will be the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or from and including the Original Accrual Date, in the case of

 

5 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

6 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

7 

All references to “Additional Interest” in the Note shall be deleted in an Exchange Note unless if, at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note, any Registration Default (as defined in a Registration Rights Agreement) has occurred with respect to the related Restricted Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

 

  A-4   Face of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


the initial Interest Payment Date) to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If an Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment will be made on the next Business Day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. [All references to any amount of “interest payable” on or with respect to this Note in the Indenture or this Note shall be deemed to include any applicable Additional Interest that may be payable on this Note.]

2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Global Note in accordance with the arrangements then existing between the Paying Agent and the Depositary, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Global Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Global Note for payment.]8 [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Note by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Note for payment.]9

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual or electronic signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

8 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

9 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

 

  A-5   Face of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


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

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within- mentioned Indenture
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee

 

By:

   
 

Authorized Signatory

Dated:

   

 

  A-6   Face of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF 7.875% 2026 NOTE]

7.875% Senior Note due 2026

3. Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Trustee shall initially act as the Paying Agent and Security Registrar in respect of the Notes and its Corporate Trust Office is designated as a place where the Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange. The Company may, however, change the Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes without prior notice to any Holders, and the Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes.

4. Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities issued or to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of November 21, 2001 (the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented and amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 30, 2009 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), and a Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 2, 2021 (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders, and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

This Note is one of the series designated as the “7.875% Senior Notes due 2026” of the Company initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $76,490,000 (the “Notes”). Such series may be reopened, from time to time, for issuances of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Securities of such series (the “Additional Notes”). Any such Additional Notes shall have the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms as the Notes, except, if applicable, the issue date, the issue price, the initial Interest Payment Date and corresponding initial Regular Record Date and the initial interest accrual date. Any such Additional Notes, together with the Notes, shall constitute a single series of Securities for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting, waivers, amendments and redemptions; provided, however, that in the event any such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such nonfungible Additional Notes shall be issued with a separate CUSIP number so that they are distinguishable from the Notes. Additional series of Securities may be issued pursuant to the Indenture.

The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and rank pari passu with all unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company.

The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all those terms, and Holders thereof are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of all those terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

 

  A-7   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note have the respective meanings ascribed to them by the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption. The Notes are not redeemable prior to the Maturity Date of March 1, 2026.

6. Sinking Fund. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund or analogous provisions.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of this Note, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer or exchange, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

8. Persons Deemed Owner. The Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.

9. Unclaimed Funds. If money for the payment of principal, premium or interest of or on the Notes remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request, subject to any applicable abandoned property laws. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for payment.

10. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes will be subject to defeasance and discharge as set forth in Section 1302 of the Original Indenture and to covenant defeasance as set forth in Section 1303 of the Original Indenture.

11. Amendment; Waiver. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

 

  A-8   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


12. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless: the Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes; the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity; the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein (including, in case of a redemption, on the Redemption Date).

13. Obligations Absolute. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

14. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

15. Trustee Dealings with the Company. Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

16. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not, except as provided in Section 802 of the Original Indenture.

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

  A-9   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders thereof. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Northrop Grumman Corporation

2980 Fairview Park Drive

Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Attention: Corporate Vice President and Secretary

 

  A-10   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM –

  

as tenants in common

  

TEN ENT –

  

as tenants by the entireties

  

JT TEN –

  

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT –

  

_________ Custodian ________ under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act _____

  

(Cust)                             (Minor)

  

                 (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list.

 

  A-11   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto (Please insert Social Security Number, Taxpayer Identification No., or other identifying number of assignee)

 

    

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)

the within Note of NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing:

    

 

    

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of attorney)

as attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated: _____________________      
   

(Signature)

 

   

(Please print or typewrite name and title if signing on behalf of an entity)

 

   

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatsoever.

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:    
    (Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution with membership in an approved signature guarantee program pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

[Include the following only if the Restricted Notes Legend is included hereon]

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

  A-12   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)       to the Company; or
(2)       pursuant to a registration statement which has become effective under the
      Securities Act; or
(3)       to a person reasonably believed to be a qualified institutional buyer in
      compliance with Rule 144A; or
(4)       to a non-U.S. person outside the United States in an offshore transaction in
      compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S; or
(5)       pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  A-13   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated: ______________________________________________      
    NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  A-14   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is (x) not a “U.S. person” and (y) outside of the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Dated: ______________________________________________      
    NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  A-15   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

The initial principal amount of this Note shall be $[__________]. The following decreases/increases in the principal amount of this Note have been made:

 

Date of

Decrease/

Increase

 

Decrease in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Increase in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Total Principal

Amount of Note

Following such

Decrease/

Increase

 

Notation

Made by

or on

Behalf of

Trustee

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

 

  A-16   Reverse Side of Form of 7.875% Senior Note due 2026


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF FACE OF 7.750% 2026 NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.]10

[Restricted Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER

(1) REPRESENTS THAT

(A) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, OR

(B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY

(A) TO NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION,

 

10 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

 

  B-1   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(C) ABOVE OR (2)(D) ABOVE, A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED CERTIFICATE (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE. PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, NORTHROP GRUMMAN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY RULE 144 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.]11

[Regulation S Global Notes Legend]

[BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

11 

To be included only if the Note is a Restricted Note.

 

  B-2   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]12

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]13

 

12 

To be included only if the Note is a Regulation S Global Note.

13 

To be included only if the Depositary is The Depository Trust Company.

 

  B-3   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


CUSIP No.: [666807BX9] /

[U66508AG4]

 

No. [A-[__]][S-[__]]    Principal Amount: $[__________]

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

7.750% Senior Note due 2026

1. Principal and Interest. NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [________________]14 [CEDE & CO.]15, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________________ Dollars (or such greater or lesser amount as is set forth in Schedule A hereto), on March 15, 2026 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from March 15, 2021 (the “Original Accrual Date”), or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 in each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing September 15, 2021, at the rate of 7.750% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months[; provided that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest (“Additional Interest”) shall accrue on this Note if and to the extent provided for in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement]16. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities to this Note (the “Predecessor Notes”)) is registered at the close of business on the February 28 or August 31 (whether or not a Business Day) (each, a “Regular Record Date”), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as applicable; provided that the interest payable on September 15, 2021 will be paid to the Persons in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on September 2, 2021. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to such Person on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Holder in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee under the Indenture, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Interest payable on this Note on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, will be the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or from and including the Original Accrual Date, in the case of the initial Interest

 

14 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

15 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

16 

All references to “Additional Interest” in the Note shall be deleted in an Exchange Note unless if, at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note, any Registration Default (as defined in a Registration Rights Agreement) has occurred with respect to the related Restricted Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

 

  B-4   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


Payment Date) to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If an Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment will be made on the next Business Day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. [All references to any amount of “interest payable” on or with respect to this Note in the Indenture or this Note shall be deemed to include any applicable Additional Interest that may be payable on this Note.]

2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Global Note in accordance with the arrangements then existing between the Paying Agent and the Depositary, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Global Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Global Note for payment.]17 [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Note by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Note for payment.]18

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual or electronic signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

17 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

18 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

 

  B-5   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


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

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
as Trustee

By:

   
 

Authorized Signatory

Dated:

   

 

  B-6   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF 7.750% 2026 NOTE]

7.750% Senior Note due 2026

3. Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Trustee shall initially act as the Paying Agent and Security Registrar in respect of the Notes and its Corporate Trust Office is designated as a place where the Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange. The Company may, however, change the Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes without prior notice to any Holders, and the Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes.

4. Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities issued or to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of November 21, 2001 (the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented and amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 30, 2009 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), and a Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 2, 2021 (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders, and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

This Note is one of the series designated as the “7.750% Senior Notes due 2026” of the Company initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $47,828,000 (the “Notes”). Such series may be reopened, from time to time, for issuances of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Securities of such series (the “Additional Notes”). Any such Additional Notes shall have the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms as the Notes, except, if applicable, the issue date, the issue price, the initial Interest Payment Date and corresponding initial Regular Record Date and the initial interest accrual date. Any such Additional Notes, together with the Notes, shall constitute a single series of Securities for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting, waivers, amendments and redemptions; provided, however, that in the event any such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such nonfungible Additional Notes shall be issued with a separate CUSIP number so that they are distinguishable from the Notes. Additional series of Securities may be issued pursuant to the Indenture.

The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and rank pari passu with all unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company.

The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all those terms, and Holders thereof are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of all those terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

 

  B-7   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note have the respective meanings ascribed to them by the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption. The Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, in principal amounts of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above such amount (provided that the unredeemed portion of any Note redeemed in part may not be less than $2,000), on at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior notice as provided in the Indenture. The Redemption Price for the Notes will equal the sum of (i) the greater of (y) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed and (z) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed (not including any portion of any payments of such interest accrued to the Redemption Date), discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a rate equal to the sum of the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below), as determined by the Independent Investment Banker (as defined below), plus 10 basis points, and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the Holders thereof as of the close of business on the corresponding Regular Record Date pursuant to Section 1 of this Note and Section 205 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the arithmetic mean of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations received for such Redemption Date, or (B) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company to act as the “Independent Investment Banker.”

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (A) BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities LLC (or their respective affiliates which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in the United States (“Primary Treasury Dealers”)), and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (B) any other Primary Treasury Dealer(s) selected by the Company.

 

  B-8   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the arithmetic mean, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for such calculation.

In connection with any redemption of the Notes in part, if the Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes, interests in the Notes will be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor.

6. Sinking Fund. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund or analogous provisions.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of this Note, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer or exchange, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer. If the Notes are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of the applicable notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part (except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part).

8. Persons Deemed Owner. The Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.

9. Unclaimed Funds. If money for the payment of principal, premium or interest of or on the Notes remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request, subject to any applicable abandoned property laws. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for payment.

10. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes will be subject to defeasance and discharge as set forth in Section 1302 of the Original Indenture and to covenant defeasance as set forth in Section 1303 of the Original Indenture.

 

  B-9   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


11. Amendment; Waiver. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

12. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless: the Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes; the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity; the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein (including, in case of a redemption, on the Redemption Date).

13. Obligations Absolute. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

14. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

 

  B-10   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


15. Trustee Dealings with the Company. Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

16. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not, except as provided in Section 802 of the Original Indenture.

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders thereof. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Northrop Grumman Corporation

2980 Fairview Park Drive

Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Attention: Corporate Vice President and Secretary

 

  B-11   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM –    as tenants in common
TEN ENT –    as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN –    as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT –    _________ Custodian ________ under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act _____
         (Cust)                        (Minor)                                                               (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list.

 

  B-12   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto (Please insert Social Security Number, Taxpayer Identification No., or other identifying number of assignee)

 

 
    (Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)
the within Note of NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing:
 
 
    (Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of attorney)
as attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:                                       

   
 

(Signature)

   
  (Please print or typewrite name and title if signing on behalf of an entity)
  NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatsoever.

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

   
  (Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution with membership in an approved signature guarantee program pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

[Include the following only if the Restricted Notes Legend is included hereon]

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

  B-13   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)       to the Company; or
(2)       pursuant to a registration statement which has become effective under the Securities Act; or
(3)       to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” in compliance with Rule 144A; or
(4)       to a non-U.S. person outside the United States in an “offshore transaction” in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S; or
(5)       pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  B-14   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:                                                                           
  NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  B-15   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is (x) not a “U.S. person” and (y) outside of the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Dated:                                                                               
  NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  B-16   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

The initial principal amount of this Note shall be $[__________]. The following decreases/increases in the principal amount of this Note have been made:

 

Date of

Decrease/

Increase

 

Decrease in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Increase in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Total Principal

Amount of Note

Following such

Decrease/

Increase

 

Notation

Made by

or on

Behalf of

Trustee

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

 

  B-17   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2026


EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF FACE OF 2028 NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.]19

[Restricted Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER

(1) REPRESENTS THAT

(A) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, OR

(B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY

(A) TO NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION,

 

19 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

 

  C-1   Face of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(C) ABOVE OR (2)(D) ABOVE, A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED CERTIFICATE (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE. PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, NORTHROP GRUMMAN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY RULE 144 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.]20

[Regulation S Global Notes Legend]

[BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

20 

To be included only if the Note is a Restricted Note.

 

  C-2   Face of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]21

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]22

 

21 

To be included only if the Note is a Regulation S Global Note.

22 

To be included only if the Depositary is The Depository Trust Company.

 

  C-3   Face of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


CUSIP No.: [666807BZ4] /

[U66508AH2]

 

No. [A-[__]][S-[__]]    Principal Amount: $[__________]

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

6.650% Senior Note due 2028

1. Principal and Interest. NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [________________]23 [CEDE & CO.]24, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________________ Dollars (or such greater or lesser amount as is set forth in Schedule A hereto), on January 15, 2028 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from July 15, 2021 (the “Original Accrual Date”), or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 in each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing January 15, 2022, at the rate of 6.650% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months[; provided that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest (“Additional Interest”) shall accrue on this Note if and to the extent provided for in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement]25. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities to this Note (the “Predecessor Notes”)) is registered at the close of business on the January 1 or July 1 (whether or not a Business Day) (each, a “Regular Record Date”), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as applicable. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to such Person on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Holder in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee under the Indenture, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Interest payable on this Note on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, will be the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or from and including the Original Accrual Date, in the case of the initial Interest Payment Date) to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If an Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is

 

23 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

24 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

25 

All references to “Additional Interest” in the Note shall be deleted in an Exchange Note unless if, at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note, any Registration Default (as defined in a Registration Rights Agreement) has occurred with respect to the related Restricted Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

 

  C-4   Face of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


not a Business Day, the payment will be made on the next Business Day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. [All references to any amount of “interest payable” on or with respect to this Note in the Indenture or this Note shall be deemed to include any applicable Additional Interest that may be payable on this Note.]

2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Global Note in accordance with the arrangements then existing between the Paying Agent and the Depositary, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Global Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Global Note for payment.]26 [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Note by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Note for payment.]27

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual or electronic signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

26 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

27 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

 

  C-5   Face of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


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

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within — mentioned Indenture

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

as Trustee

By:    
  Authorized Signatory
Dated:    

 

  C-6   Face of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF 2028 NOTE]

6.650% Senior Note due 2028

3. Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Trustee shall initially act as the Paying Agent and Security Registrar in respect of the Notes and its Corporate Trust Office is designated as a place where the Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange. The Company may, however, change the Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes without prior notice to any Holders, and the Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes.

4. Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities issued or to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of November 21, 2001 (the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented and amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 30, 2009 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), and a Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 2, 2021 (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders, and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

This Note is one of the series designated as the “6.650% Senior Notes due 2028” of the Company initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $38,859,000 (the “Notes”). Such series may be reopened, from time to time, for issuances of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Securities of such series (the “Additional Notes”). Any such Additional Notes shall have the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms as the Notes, except, if applicable, the issue date, the issue price, the initial Interest Payment Date and corresponding initial Regular Record Date and the initial interest accrual date. Any such Additional Notes, together with the Notes, shall constitute a single series of Securities for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting, waivers, amendments and redemptions; provided, however, that in the event any such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such nonfungible Additional Notes shall be issued with a separate CUSIP number so that they are distinguishable from the Notes. Additional series of Securities may be issued pursuant to the Indenture.

The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and rank pari passu with all unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company.

The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all those terms, and Holders thereof are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of all those terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

 

  C-7   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note have the respective meanings ascribed to them by the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption. The Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, in principal amounts of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above such amount (provided that the unredeemed portion of any Note redeemed in part may not be less than $2,000), on at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior notice as provided in the Indenture. The Redemption Price for the Notes will equal the sum of (i) the greater of (y) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed and (z) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed (not including any portion of any payments of such interest accrued to the Redemption Date), discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a rate equal to the sum of the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below), as determined by the Independent Investment Banker (as defined below), plus 12.5 basis points, and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the Holders thereof as of the close of business on the corresponding Regular Record Date pursuant to Section 1 of this Note and Section 205 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the arithmetic mean of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations received for such Redemption Date, or (B) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company to act as the “Independent Investment Banker.”

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (A) BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities LLC (or their respective affiliates which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in the United States (“Primary Treasury Dealers”)), and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (B) any other Primary Treasury Dealer(s) selected by the Company.

 

  C-8   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the arithmetic mean, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for such calculation.

In connection with any redemption of the Notes in part, if the Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes, interests in the Notes will be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor.

6. Sinking Fund. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund or analogous provisions.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of this Note, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer or exchange, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer. If the Notes are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of the applicable notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part (except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part).

8. Persons Deemed Owner. The Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.

9. Unclaimed Funds. If money for the payment of principal, premium or interest of or on the Notes remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request, subject to any applicable abandoned property laws. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for payment.

10. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes will be subject to defeasance and discharge as set forth in Section 1302 of the Original Indenture and to covenant defeasance as set forth in Section 1303 of the Original Indenture.

 

  C-9   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


11. Amendment; Waiver. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

12. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless: the Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes; the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity; the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein (including, in case of a redemption, on the Redemption Date).

13. Obligations Absolute. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

14. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

 

  C-10   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


15. Trustee Dealings with the Company. Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

16. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not, except as provided in Section 802 of the Original Indenture.

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders thereof. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Northrop Grumman Corporation

2980 Fairview Park Drive

Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Attention: Corporate Vice President and Secretary

 

  C-11   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM –

  

as tenants in common

  

TEN ENT –

  

as tenants by the entireties

  

JT TEN –

  

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT –

  

_________ Custodian ________ under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act _____

  

(Cust)                                 (Minor)

  

                         (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list.

 

  C-12   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto (Please insert Social Security Number, Taxpayer Identification No., or other identifying number of assignee)

 

 

  (Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)

the within Note of NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing:

 

 

 

 

  (Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of attorney)

as attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:                                         

 

    (Signature)
   

 

    (Please print or typewrite name and title if signing on behalf of an entity)
    NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatsoever.
Signature(s) Guaranteed:    

 

    (Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution with membership in an approved signature guarantee program pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

[Include the following only if the Restricted Notes Legend is included hereon]

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

  C-13   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)       to the Company; or
(2)       pursuant to a registration statement which has become effective under the Securities Act; or
(3)       to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” in compliance with Rule 144A; or
(4)       to a non-U.S. person outside the United States in an “offshore transaction” in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S; or
(5)       pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  C-14   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated: ______________________________________________      
    NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  C-15   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is (x) not a “U.S. person” and (y) outside of the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Dated: ______________________________________________      
    NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  C-16   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

The initial principal amount of this Note shall be $[__________]. The following decreases/increases in the principal amount of this Note have been made:

 

Date of

Decrease/

Increase

 

Decrease in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Increase in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Total Principal

Amount of Note

Following such

Decrease/

Increase

 

Notation

Made by

or on

Behalf of

Trustee

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

 

  C-17   Reverse Side of Form of 6.650% Senior Note due 2028


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF FACE OF 2029 NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.]28

[Restricted Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER

(1) REPRESENTS THAT

(A) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, OR

(B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY

(A) TO NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION,

 

28 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

 

  D-1   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(C) ABOVE OR (2)(D) ABOVE, A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED CERTIFICATE (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE. PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, NORTHROP GRUMMAN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY RULE 144 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.]29

[Regulation S Global Notes Legend]

[BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

29 

To be included only if the Note is a Restricted Note.

 

  D-2   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]30

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]31

 

30 

To be included only if the Note is a Regulation S Global Note.

31 

To be included only if the Depositary is The Depository Trust Company.

 

  D-3   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


CUSIP No.: [666807CB6] /

[U66508AJ8]

 

No. [A-[__]][S-[__]]       Principal Amount: $[__________]

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

7.750% Senior Note due 2029

1. Principal and Interest. NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [________________]32 [CEDE & CO.]33, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________________ Dollars (or such greater or lesser amount as is set forth in Schedule A hereto), on June 1, 2029 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from June 1, 2021 (the “Original Accrual Date”), or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 in each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing December 1, 2021, at the rate of 7.750% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months[; provided that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest (“Additional Interest”) shall accrue on this Note if and to the extent provided for in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement]34. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities to this Note (the “Predecessor Notes”)) is registered at the close of business on the May 15 or November 15 (whether or not a Business Day) (each, a “Regular Record Date”), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as applicable. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to such Person on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Holder in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee under the Indenture, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Interest payable on this Note on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, will be the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or from and including the Original Accrual Date, in the case of the initial Interest Payment Date) to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If an Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a

 

32 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

33 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

34 

All references to “Additional Interest” in the Note shall be deleted in an Exchange Note unless if, at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note, any Registration Default (as defined in a Registration Rights Agreement) has occurred with respect to the related Restricted Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

 

  D-4   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


day that is not a Business Day, the payment will be made on the next Business Day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. [All references to any amount of “interest payable” on or with respect to this Note in the Indenture or this Note shall be deemed to include any applicable Additional Interest that may be payable on this Note.]

2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Global Note in accordance with the arrangements then existing between the Paying Agent and the Depositary, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Global Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Global Note for payment.]35 [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Note by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Note for payment.]36

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual or electronic signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

35 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

36 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

 

  D-5   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


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

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within — mentioned Indenture
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee

By:

   
 

Authorized Signatory

Dated:

   

 

  D-6   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF 2029 NOTE]

7.750% Senior Note due 2029

3. Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Trustee shall initially act as the Paying Agent and Security Registrar in respect of the Notes and its Corporate Trust Office is designated as a place where the Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange. The Company may, however, change the Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes without prior notice to any Holders, and the Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes.

4. Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities issued or to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of November 21, 2001 (the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented and amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 30, 2009 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), and a Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 2, 2021 (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders, and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

This Note is one of the series designated as the “7.750% Senior Notes due 2029” of the Company initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $79,323,000 (the “Notes”). Such series may be reopened, from time to time, for issuances of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Securities of such series (the “Additional Notes”). Any such Additional Notes shall have the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms as the Notes, except, if applicable, the issue date, the issue price, the initial Interest Payment Date and corresponding initial Regular Record Date and the initial interest accrual date. Any such Additional Notes, together with the Notes, shall constitute a single series of Securities for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting, waivers, amendments and redemptions; provided, however, that in the event any such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such nonfungible Additional Notes shall be issued with a separate CUSIP number so that they are distinguishable from the Notes. Additional series of Securities may be issued pursuant to the Indenture.

The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and rank pari passu with all unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company.

The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all those terms, and Holders thereof are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of all those terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

 

  D-7   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note have the respective meanings ascribed to them by the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption. The Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, in principal amounts of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above such amount (provided that the unredeemed portion of any Note redeemed in part may not be less than $2,000), on at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior notice as provided in the Indenture. The Redemption Price for the Notes will equal the sum of (i) the greater of (y) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed and (z) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed (not including any portion of any payments of such interest accrued to the Redemption Date), discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a rate equal to the sum of the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below), as determined by the Independent Investment Banker (as defined below), plus 25 basis points, and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the Holders thereof as of the close of business on the corresponding Regular Record Date pursuant to Section 1 of this Note and Section 205 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the arithmetic mean of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations received for such Redemption Date, or (B) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company to act as the “Independent Investment Banker.”

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (A) BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities LLC (or their respective affiliates which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in the United States (“Primary Treasury Dealers”)), and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (B) any other Primary Treasury Dealer(s) selected by the Company.

 

  D-8   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the arithmetic mean, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for such calculation.

In connection with any redemption of the Notes in part, if the Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes, interests in the Notes will be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor.

6. Sinking Fund. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund or analogous provisions.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of this Note, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer or exchange, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer. If the Notes are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of the applicable notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part (except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part).

8. Persons Deemed Owner. The Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.

9. Unclaimed Funds. If money for the payment of principal, premium or interest of or on the Notes remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request, subject to any applicable abandoned property laws. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for payment.

10. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes will be subject to defeasance and discharge as set forth in Section 1302 of the Original Indenture and to covenant defeasance as set forth in Section 1303 of the Original Indenture.

 

  D-9   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


11. Amendment; Waiver. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

12. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless: the Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes; the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity; the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein (including, in case of a redemption, on the Redemption Date).

13. Obligations Absolute. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

14. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

 

  D-10   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


15. Trustee Dealings with the Company. Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

16. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not, except as provided in Section 802 of the Original Indenture.

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders thereof. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Northrop Grumman Corporation

2980 Fairview Park Drive

Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Attention: Corporate Vice President and Secretary

 

  D-11   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM –

  

as tenants in common

TEN ENT –

  

as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN –

  

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT –

  

_________ Custodian ________ under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act _____

  

        (Cust)                     (Minor)                                                                      (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list.

 

  D-12   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto (Please insert Social Security Number, Taxpayer Identification No., or other identifying number of assignee)

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)

the within Note of NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing:

 

 

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of attorney)

as attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:                                     

 
 

(Signature)

   
 

(Please print or typewrite name and title if signing on behalf of an entity)

  NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatsoever.

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 
  (Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution with membership in an approved signature guarantee program pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

[Include the following only if the Restricted Notes Legend is included hereon]

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

  D-13   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)      to the Company; or
(2)      pursuant to a registration statement which has become effective under the Securities Act; or
(3)      to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” in compliance with Rule 144A; or
(4)      to a non-U.S. person outside the United States in an “offshore transaction” in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S; or
(5)      pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  D-14   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:

         
     

NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  D-15   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is (x) not a “U.S. person” and (y) outside of the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Dated:

         
     

NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  D-16   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

The initial principal amount of this Note shall be $[__________]. The following decreases/increases in the principal amount of this Note have been made:

 

Date of

Decrease/

Increase

 

Decrease in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Increase in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Total Principal

Amount of Note

Following such

Decrease/

Increase

 

Notation

Made by

or on

Behalf of

Trustee

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

 

  D-17   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2029


EXHIBIT E

[FORM OF FACE OF 2031 NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.]37

[Restricted Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER

(1) REPRESENTS THAT

(A) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, OR

(B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY

(A) TO NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION,

 

 

37 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

 

  E-1   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(C) ABOVE OR (2)(D) ABOVE, A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED CERTIFICATE (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE. PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, NORTHROP GRUMMAN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY RULE 144 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.]38

[Regulation S Global Notes Legend]

[BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

 

38 

To be included only if the Note is a Restricted Note.

 

  E-2   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]39

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]40

 

 

 

39 

To be included only if the Note is a Regulation S Global Note.

40 

To be included only if the Depositary is The Depository Trust Company.

 

  E-3   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


CUSIP No.: [666807CD2] /

[U66508AK5]

 

No. [A-[__]][S-[__]]    Principal Amount: $[__________]

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

7.750% Senior Note due 2031

1. Principal and Interest. NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [________________]41 [CEDE & CO.]42, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________________ Dollars (or such greater or lesser amount as is set forth in Schedule A hereto), on February 15, 2031 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from August 15, 2021 (the “Original Accrual Date”), or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 in each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing February 15, 2022, at the rate of 7.750% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months[; provided that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest (“Additional Interest”) shall accrue on this Note if and to the extent provided for in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement]43. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities to this Note (the “Predecessor Notes”)) is registered at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 (whether or not a Business Day) (each, a “Regular Record Date”), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as applicable. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to such Person on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Holder in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee under the Indenture, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Interest payable on this Note on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, will be the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or from and including the Original Accrual Date, in the case of the initial Interest Payment Date) to but excluding the applicable Interest

 

 

41 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

42 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

43 

All references to “Additional Interest” in the Note shall be deleted in an Exchange Note unless if, at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note, any Registration Default (as defined in a Registration Rights Agreement) has occurred with respect to the related Restricted Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

 

  E-4   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If an Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment will be made on the next Business Day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. [All references to any amount of “interest payable” on or with respect to this Note in the Indenture or this Note shall be deemed to include any applicable Additional Interest that may be payable on this Note.]

2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Global Note in accordance with the arrangements then existing between the Paying Agent and the Depositary, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Global Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Global Note for payment.]44 [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Note by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Note for payment.]45

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual or electronic signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

 

 

44 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

45 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

 

  E-5   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


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

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within - mentioned Indenture
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee

By:

   
 

Authorized Signatory

Dated:

   

 

 

  E-6   Face of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF 2031 NOTE]

7.750% Senior Note due 2031

3. Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Trustee shall initially act as the Paying Agent and Security Registrar in respect of the Notes and its Corporate Trust Office is designated as a place where the Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange. The Company may, however, change the Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes without prior notice to any Holders, and the Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes.

4. Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities issued or to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of November 21, 2001 (the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented and amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 30, 2009 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), and a Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 2, 2021 (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders, and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

This Note is one of the series designated as the “7.750% Senior Notes due 2031” of the Company initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $166,864,000 (the “Notes”). Such series may be reopened, from time to time, for issuances of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Securities of such series (the “Additional Notes”). Any such Additional Notes shall have the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms as the Notes, except, if applicable, the issue date, the issue price, the initial Interest Payment Date and corresponding initial Regular Record Date and the initial interest accrual date. Any such Additional Notes, together with the Notes, shall constitute a single series of Securities for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting, waivers, amendments and redemptions; provided, however, that in the event any such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such nonfungible Additional Notes shall be issued with a separate CUSIP number so that they are distinguishable from the Notes. Additional series of Securities may be issued pursuant to the Indenture.

The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and rank pari passu with all unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company.

The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all those terms, and Holders thereof are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of all those terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

 

  E-7   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note have the respective meanings ascribed to them by the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption. The Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, in principal amounts of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above such amount (provided that the unredeemed portion of any Note redeemed in part may not be less than $2,000), on at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior notice as provided in the Indenture. The Redemption Price for the Notes will equal the sum of (i) the greater of (y) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed and (z) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed (not including any portion of any payments of such interest accrued to the Redemption Date), discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a rate equal to the sum of the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below), as determined by the Independent Investment Banker (as defined below), plus 30 basis points, and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the Holders thereof as of the close of business on the corresponding Regular Record Date pursuant to Section 1 of this Note and Section 205 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the arithmetic mean of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations received for such Redemption Date, or (B) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company to act as the “Independent Investment Banker.”

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (A) BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities LLC (or their respective affiliates which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in the United States (“Primary Treasury Dealers”)), and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (B) any other Primary Treasury Dealer(s) selected by the Company.

 

  E-8   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the arithmetic mean, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for such calculation.

In connection with any redemption of the Notes in part, if the Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes, interests in the Notes will be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor.

6. Sinking Fund. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund or analogous provisions.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of this Note, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer or exchange, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer. If the Notes are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of the applicable notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part (except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part).

8. Persons Deemed Owner. The Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.

9. Unclaimed Funds. If money for the payment of principal, premium or interest of or on the Notes remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request, subject to any applicable abandoned property laws. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for payment.

10. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes will be subject to defeasance and discharge as set forth in Section 1302 of the Original Indenture and to covenant defeasance as set forth in Section 1303 of the Original Indenture.

 

  E-9   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


11. Amendment; Waiver. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

12. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless: the Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes; the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity; the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein (including, in case of a redemption, on the Redemption Date).

13. Obligations Absolute. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

14. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

 

  E-10   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


15. Trustee Dealings with the Company. Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

16. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not, except as provided in Section 802 of the Original Indenture.

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders thereof. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

 

  

Northrop Grumman Corporation

2980 Fairview Park Drive

Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Attention: Corporate Vice President and Secretary

 

  E-11   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM –    as tenants in common
TEN ENT –    as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN –    as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT –    _________ Custodian ________ under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act _____
       (Cust)                         (Minor)                                                               (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list.

 

  E-12   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto (Please insert Social Security Number, Taxpayer Identification No., or other identifying number of assignee)

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)

the within Note of NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing:

 
 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of attorney)

as attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:                                         

     
     

(Signature)

       
      (Please print or typewrite name and title if signing on behalf of an entity)
      NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatsoever.

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

       
      (Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution with membership in an approved signature guarantee program pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

[Include the following only if the Restricted Notes Legend is included hereon]

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

  E-13   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)       

to the Company; or

(2)       

pursuant to a registration statement which has become effective under the Securities Act; or

(3)       

to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” in compliance with Rule 144A; or

(4)       

to a non-U.S. person outside the United States in an “offshore transaction” in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S; or

(5)       

pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  E-14   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

Dated:

         
      NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  E-15   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is (x) not a “U.S. person” and (y) outside of the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Dated:

         
      NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  E-16   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

The initial principal amount of this Note shall be $[__________]. The following decreases/increases in the principal amount of this Note have been made:

 

Date of

Decrease/

Increase

 

Decrease in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Increase in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Total Principal

Amount of Note

Following such

Decrease/

Increase

 

Notation

Made by

or on

Behalf of

Trustee

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

 

  E-17   Reverse Side of Form of 7.750% Senior Note due 2031


EXHIBIT F

[FORM OF FACE OF 2036 NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY NAMED BELOW OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.]46

[Restricted Notes Legend]

[THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER

(1) REPRESENTS THAT

(A) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, OR

(B) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY

(A) TO NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION,

 

 

46 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

 

  F-1   Face of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,

(D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(C) ABOVE OR (2)(D) ABOVE, A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED CERTIFICATE (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE. PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, NORTHROP GRUMMAN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY RULE 144 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.]47

[Regulation S Global Notes Legend]

[BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

 

47 

To be included only if the Note is a Restricted Note.

 

  F-2   Face of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF COMMENCEMENT OR COMPLETION OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]48

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]49

 

 

48 

To be included only if the Note is a Regulation S Global Note.

49 

To be included only if the Depositary is The Depository Trust Company.

 

  F-3   Face of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


CUSIP No.: [666807CF7] /

[U66508AL3]

 

No. [A-[__]][S-[__]]    Principal Amount: $[__________]

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

6.980% Senior Note due 2036

1. Principal and Interest. NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [________________]50 [CEDE & CO.]51, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________________ Dollars (or such greater or lesser amount as is set forth in Schedule A hereto), on March 15, 2036 (the “Maturity Date”), and to pay interest thereon from March 15, 2021 (the “Original Accrual Date”), or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 in each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing September 15, 2021, at the rate of 6.980% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months[; provided that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest (“Additional Interest”) shall accrue on this Note if and to the extent provided for in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement]52. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities to this Note (the “Predecessor Notes”)) is registered at the close of business on the February 28 or August 31 (whether or not a Business Day) (each, a “Regular Record Date”), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as applicable; provided that the interest payable on September 15, 2021 will be paid to the Persons in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on September 2, 2021. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to such Person on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Holder in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee under the Indenture, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Interest payable on this Note on any Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, will be the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or from and including the Original Accrual Date, in the case of the initial Interest

 

50 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

51 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

52 

All references to “Additional Interest” in the Note shall be deleted in an Exchange Note unless if, at the date of issuance of the Exchange Note, any Registration Default (as defined in a Registration Rights Agreement) has occurred with respect to the related Restricted Notes during the interest period in which such date of issuance occurs.

 

  F-4   Face of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


Payment Date) to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If an Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment will be made on the next Business Day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. [All references to any amount of “interest payable” on or with respect to this Note in the Indenture or this Note shall be deemed to include any applicable Additional Interest that may be payable on this Note.]

2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Global Note in accordance with the arrangements then existing between the Paying Agent and the Depositary, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Global Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Global Note for payment.]53 [The Company will make all payments of interest on this Note by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto, and all payments of principal of and premium, if any, on this Note at the Corporate Trust Office upon surrender of this Note for payment.]54

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent, by manual or electronic signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

 

53 

To be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

54 

To be included only if the Note is not a Global Note.

 

  F-5   Face of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


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

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within- mentioned Indenture
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee
By:    
            Authorized Signatory
Dated:    

 

  F-6   Face of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF 2036 NOTE]

6.980% Senior Note due 2036

3. Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Trustee shall initially act as the Paying Agent and Security Registrar in respect of the Notes and its Corporate Trust Office is designated as a place where the Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange. The Company may, however, change the Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes without prior notice to any Holders, and the Company or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar for the Notes.

4. Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities issued or to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of November 21, 2001 (the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented and amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 30, 2009 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 30, 2011 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), and a Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 2, 2021 (the “Tenth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders, and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

This Note is one of the series designated as the “6.980% Senior Notes due 2036” of the Company initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $12,300,000 (the “Notes”). Such series may be reopened, from time to time, for issuances of an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Securities of such series (the “Additional Notes”). Any such Additional Notes shall have the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms as the Notes, except, if applicable, the issue date, the issue price, the initial Interest Payment Date and corresponding initial Regular Record Date and the initial interest accrual date. Any such Additional Notes, together with the Notes, shall constitute a single series of Securities for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting, waivers, amendments and redemptions; provided, however, that in the event any such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such nonfungible Additional Notes shall be issued with a separate CUSIP number so that they are distinguishable from the Notes. Additional series of Securities may be issued pursuant to the Indenture.

The Notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and rank pari passu with all unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company.

The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. The Notes are subject to all those terms, and Holders thereof are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of all those terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

 

  F-7   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note have the respective meanings ascribed to them by the Indenture.

5. Optional Redemption. The Notes are subject to redemption, as a whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, in principal amounts of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 above such amount (provided that the unredeemed portion of any Note redeemed in part may not be less than $2,000), on at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior notice as provided in the Indenture. The Redemption Price for the Notes will equal the sum of (i) the greater of (y) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed and (z) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed (not including any portion of any payments of such interest accrued to the Redemption Date), discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a rate equal to the sum of the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below), as determined by the Independent Investment Banker (as defined below), plus 10 basis points, and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding to be redeemed to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the Holders thereof as of the close of business on the corresponding Regular Record Date pursuant to Section 1 of this Note and Section 205 of the Tenth Supplemental Indenture.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the arithmetic mean of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations received for such Redemption Date, or (B) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company to act as the “Independent Investment Banker.”

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (A) BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities LLC (or their respective affiliates which are primary U.S. Government securities dealers in the United States (“Primary Treasury Dealers”)), and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (B) any other Primary Treasury Dealer(s) selected by the Company.

 

  F-8   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the arithmetic mean, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

The Company shall give the Trustee notice of the Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for such calculation.

In connection with any redemption of the Notes in part, if the Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes, interests in the Notes will be selected for redemption by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures therefor.

6. Sinking Fund. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund or analogous provisions.

7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of this Note, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such registration of transfer or exchange, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer. If the Notes are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of the applicable notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part (except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part).

8. Persons Deemed Owner. The Holder of this Note may be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.

9. Unclaimed Funds. If money for the payment of principal, premium or interest of or on the Notes remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request, subject to any applicable abandoned property laws. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for payment.

10. Defeasance and Discharge. The Notes will be subject to defeasance and discharge as set forth in Section 1302 of the Original Indenture and to covenant defeasance as set forth in Section 1303 of the Original Indenture.

 

  F-9   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


11. Amendment; Waiver. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

12. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless: the Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes; the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity; the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein (including, in case of a redemption, on the Redemption Date).

13. Obligations Absolute. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

14. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

 

  F-10   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


15. Trustee Dealings with the Company. Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

16. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in the Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not, except as provided in Section 802 of the Original Indenture.

17. Governing Law. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

18. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders thereof. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:

Northrop Grumman Corporation

2980 Fairview Park Drive

Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Attention: Corporate Vice President and Secretary

 

  F-11   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM –

  

as tenants in common

TEN ENT –

  

as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN –

  

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT –

  

_________ Custodian ________ under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act _____

  

(Cust)                             (Minor)                                                                   (State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not on the above list.

 

  F-12   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto (Please insert Social Security Number, Taxpayer Identification No., or other identifying number of assignee)

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)

the within Note of NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing:

 

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of attorney)

as attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:          
      (Signature)

 

     

 

   

(Please print or typewrite name and title if signing on behalf of an entity)

 

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatsoever.

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:      

 

    (Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution with membership in an approved signature guarantee program pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

[Include the following only if the Restricted Notes Legend is included hereon]

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Notes set forth in Rule 144(d)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

  F-13   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)        to the Company; or
(2)        pursuant to a registration statement which has become effective under the Securities Act; or
(3)        to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” in compliance with Rule 144A; or
(4)        to a non-U.S. person outside the United States in an “offshore transaction” in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S; or
(5)        pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

  F-14   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:        
      NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  F-15   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is (x) not a “U.S. person” and (y) outside of the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Dated:        
      NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

  F-16   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036


SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

The initial principal amount of this Note shall be $[__________]. The following decreases/increases in the principal amount of this Note have been made:

 

Date of

Decrease/

Increase

 

Decrease in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Increase in

Principal

Amount of

Note

 

Total Principal

Amount of Note

Following such

Decrease/

Increase

 

Notation

Made by

or on

Behalf of

Trustee

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

 

  F-17   Reverse Side of Form of 6.980% Senior Note due 2036
EX-4.8

Exhibit 4.8

Execution Version

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and among

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

and

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.

and

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

Dated as of September 2, 2021


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of September 2, 2021, by and among Northrop Grumman Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), BofA Securities, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (collectively, the “Dealer Managers”), in connection with the issuance of the Company’s 7.875% Senior Notes due 2026, 7.750% Senior Notes due 2026, 6.650% Senior Notes due 2028, 7.750% Senior Notes due 2029, 7.750% Senior Notes due 2031 and 6.980% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “Initial Securities”) in exchange for existing debt securities of Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“NGSC”), issued pursuant to (i) in respect of NGSC’s 7.750% Debentures due 2026 and 6.980% Debentures due 2036, the senior indenture dated as of December 15, 1991, between NGSC (as successor to Litton Industries, Inc.) and The Bank of New York, as trustee, (ii) in respect of NGSC’S 7.750% Debentures due 2031 and 7.875% Debentures due 2026, the indenture dated as of October 15, 1994, between NGSC and The Bank of New York Mellon, N.A. (as successor to the Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association)), as trustee, and (iii) in respect of NGSC’s 6.650% Debentures due 2028 and 7.750% Debentures due 2029, the indenture dated as of May 1, 1986, between NGSC (as successor to TRW Inc.) and The Bank of New York Mellon, N.A., as trustee, in each case as amended and supplemented by the various supplemental indentures thereto, in each case maturing on the same date, containing substantially the same redemption provisions and bearing an interest rate equal to the same amount per annum as the applicable series of Initial Securities for which they are exchanged.

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Dealer Manager And Solicitation Agent Agreement, dated August 2, 2021 (the “Dealer Manager Agreement”), among the Company and the Dealer Managers (i) for the benefit of the Dealer Managers and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Initial Securities. The Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Dealer Managers set forth in Section 6(j) of the Dealer Manager Agreement.

The parties hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

Advice: As defined in Section 6(c) hereof.

Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.

Business Day: Any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or U.S. federal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies located in New York, New York are authorized or obligated to be closed.

Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.


Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consummate: A registered Exchange Offer with respect to a series of Initial Securities shall be deemed “Consummated” for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the applicable Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the applicable Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (iii) the delivery by the Company to the registrar under the Indenture of the applicable Exchange Securities in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities that were validly tendered (and not withdrawn) by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

Dealer Manager: As defined in the preamble hereto.

Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Exchange Offer: The registration by the Company under the Securities Act of the Exchange Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Company offers the Holders of all outstanding Registrable Securities of a series the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Registrable Securities held by such Holders for Exchange Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities validly tendered (and not withdrawn) in such exchange offer by such Holders.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

Exchange Securities: The 7.875% Senior Notes due 2026, 7.750% Senior Notes due 2026, 6.650% Senior Notes due 2028, 7.750% Senior Notes due 2029, 7.750% Senior Notes due 2031 and 6.980% Senior Notes due 2036, to be issued to Holders in exchange for Registrable Securities of the applicable series of Initial Securities under the Indenture pursuant to this Agreement.

FINRA: The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Holders: As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.

Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.

Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of November 21, 2001, between the Company and the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the applicable supplemental indenture thereto, pursuant to which the Securities are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Initial Securities: As defined in the preamble hereto.

 

-2-


Interest Payment Date: As defined, with respect to any series of Securities, in the Indenture and the applicable Securities.

Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.

Registrable Securities: In the case of each Initial Security of a series, until the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which such Initial Security is exchanged in the Exchange Offer for an Exchange Security entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, (b) the date on which such Initial Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with a Shelf Registration Statement, (c) the date on which such Initial Security is distributed to the public by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (including delivery of the Prospectus contained therein), (d) the date on which the Initial Security may be resold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the Securities Act, (e) the date on which the Initial Security shall have ceased to be outstanding, (f) when an Exchange Offer is Consummated with respect to a series of Initial Securities, except in the case of the Initial Securities of the applicable series that would otherwise remain Registrable Securities that are held by a Holder that (i) was ineligible to participate in the applicable Exchange Offer or (ii) validly tendered and did not properly withdraw Registrable Securities in the applicable Exchange Offer and did not receive fully tradeable Exchange Securities pursuant to the applicable Exchange Offer and (g) the date which is two years after the Closing Date.

Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.

Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.

Securities: Collectively, the Initial Securities and the Exchange Securities.

Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Shelf Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

Shelf Suspension Period: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.

 

-3-


Trust Indenture Act: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

SECTION 2. Securities Subject to this Agreement.

(a) Registrable Securities. The securities of a series entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Registrable Securities of such series.

(b) Holders of Registrable Securities. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities of a series (each, a “Holder”) whenever such Person owns Registrable Securities of such series.

SECTION 3. Registered Exchange Offer.

(a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) hereof have been complied with), the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts (i) to cause to be filed with the Commission a Registration Statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Securities and the Exchange Offer, (ii) to cause such Registration Statement to become effective, (iii) in connection with the foregoing, to cause all necessary filings in connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Securities to be made under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such Registration Statement, to commence the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting registration of the Exchange Securities to be offered in exchange for the Registrable Securities and to permit resales of Initial Securities held by Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(c) hereof.

(b) The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 business days after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is first published or delivered to the Holders. The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No securities other than the Exchange Securities shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, but in no event later than 365 days after the Closing Date (or if such 365th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

(c) The Company shall indicate in a “Plan of Distribution” section contained in the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement that any Broker-Dealer who holds Initial Securities that are Registrable Securities and that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (other than Registrable Securities acquired directly from the Company), may exchange such Initial Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within

 

-4-


the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales of the Exchange Securities received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Such “Plan of Distribution” section shall also contain all other information with respect to such resales by Broker-Dealers that the Commission may require in order to permit such resales pursuant thereto, but such “Plan of Distribution” shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or disclose the amount of Initial Securities held by any such Broker-Dealer except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change in policy after the date of this Agreement.

The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Initial Securities acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 90 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date on which a Broker-Dealer is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities.

The Company shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus contained in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such 90-day (or shorter as provided in the foregoing sentence) period in order to facilitate such resales.

SECTION 4. Shelf Registration.

(a) Shelf Registration. If (i) the Company is not required to file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer because the Company determines that the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or Commission policy (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a) hereof have been complied with), (ii) for any reason the Exchange Offer is not Consummated within 365 days after the Closing Date (or if such 365th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), or (iii) with respect to any Holder of Registrable Securities such Holder notifies the Company in writing prior to the 20th calendar day following Consummation of the Exchange Offer that (A) such Holder is prohibited by applicable law or Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such Holder, then, upon such Holder’s request, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the “Shelf Registration Statement”) to be filed and declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the

 

-5-


earliest to occur of (1) the 90th day after the date on which the Company determines that it is not required to file the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and (2) the 90th day after the date on which the Company receives notice from a Holder of Registrable Securities as contemplated by clause (iii) above, (such earliest date being the “Shelf Filing Deadline”) which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Registrable Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to file a Shelf Registration Statement (and no Shelf Filing Deadline shall occur) prior to 365 days after the Closing Date (or if such 365th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Initial Securities by the Holders of Registrable Securities who shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, until all the Initial Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement or are freely tradeable pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, at any time, the Company may delay the filing of any Shelf Registration Statement or delay or suspend the effectiveness thereof, for a reasonable period of time, but not in excess of 120 days in the aggregate during any 12-month period (each, a “Shelf Suspension Period”), if the Company reasonably determines that the filing of any such Shelf Registration Statement or the continuing effectiveness thereof would require the disclosure of non-public material information that, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, would be detrimental to the Company if so disclosed or would otherwise materially adversely affect a financing, acquisition, disposition, merger or other material transaction or such action is required by applicable law; provided that in no event shall the Company be required to disclose the business purpose for such suspension. Any Shelf Suspension Period pursuant to this Section 4(a) shall begin on the date specified in a written notice given by the Company to the Holders and shall end on the date specified in a subsequent written notice given by the Company to the Holders.

(b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. No Holder of Registrable Securities may include any of its Registrable Securities in any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 20 Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein. Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.

 

-6-


SECTION 5. Additional Interest. If, with respect to a series of Registrable Securities, (i) the Exchange Offer for such series has not been Consummated within 365 days after the Closing Date (or if such 365th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) or (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement for such series required by this Agreement is not filed prior to the applicable Shelf Filing Deadline or filed and declared effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose for a period of time (expect as specifically permitted herein, including with respect to any Shelf Suspension Period as provided in Section 4(a) hereof or because of the sale of all Registrable Securities under such Shelf Registration Statement) without being succeeded immediately by a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement that cures such failure and that is itself immediately declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) and (ii), a “Registration Default”), the Company hereby agrees that the interest rate borne by the Registrable Securities of such series shall be increased by 0.25% per annum immediately following the occurrence of any Registration Default (such interest, “Additional Interest”); provided that Additional Interest shall accrue from and including the date that the applicable Registration Default occurs and is continuing to but excluding the date that is the earlier of (x) the date on which such Registration Default is cured and (y) the date on which the Initial Securities of the applicable series cease to be Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of Additional Interest borne by any series of Initial Securities as a result of a Registration Default shall in no event exceed 0.25% per annum even if more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular series of Registrable Securities or such applicable Initial Securities ceasing to be Registrable Securities, the interest rate borne by the relevant Registrable Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by such Initial Securities; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default with respect to such series of Registrable Securities occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Registrable Securities shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions. Additional Interest shall not be payable with respect to Registration Defaults for any period during which a Shelf Registration Statement is effective and usable by the Holders of Registrable Securities of such series.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to pay Additional Interest with respect to the Registrable Securities to any Holder if the failure arises from the Company’s failure to file, or cause to become effective, a Shelf Registration Statement within the time periods specified in Section 4 by reason of the failure of such Holder to provide such information as (i) the Company may reasonably request, with reasonable prior written notice, for use in the Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein to the extent the Company reasonably determines that such information is required to be included therein by applicable law, (ii) FINRA or the SEC may request in connection with such Shelf Registration Statement or (iii) is required to comply with the agreements of such Holder as contained herein to the extent compliance thereof is necessary for the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared or otherwise become effective, including, without limitation, a signed notice and questionnaire as distributed by the Company consenting to such Holder’s inclusion in the Prospectus as a selling security holder, evidencing such Holder’s agreement to be bound by the applicable provisions of this Agreement and providing such further information to the Company as the Company may reasonably request.

For the avoidance of doubt, a Registration Default or a default or event of default under this Agreement shall not constitute a default or event of default under the Indenture.

 

-7-


SECTION 6. Registration Procedures.

(a) Representation of Holders. As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, each Holder of Registrable Securities shall furnish, upon the request of the Company, prior to the Consummation thereof, a written representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the effect that (A) it is not an affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Securities in its ordinary course of business. In addition, all such Holders of Registrable Securities shall otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in the Company’s preparations for the Exchange Offer. Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any Broker-Dealer and any such Holder using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the securities to be acquired in the Exchange Offer (1) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and similar no-action letters, and (2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale transaction should be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K if the resales are of Exchange Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Initial Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company.

(b) Shelf Registration Statement. In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall comply with all the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of the Registrable Securities being sold in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will as expeditiously as reasonably possible prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form shall be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof.

(c) General Provisions. In connection with any Registration Statement and any Prospectus required by this Agreement to permit the sale or resale of Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, any Registration Statement and the related Prospectus required to permit resales of Initial Securities by Broker-Dealers), the Company shall:

 

-8-


(i) except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the period specified in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain a material misstatement or omission or (B) not to be effective and usable for resale of Registrable Securities during the period required by this Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such Registration Statement, in the case of clause (A), correcting any such misstatement or omission, and, in the case of either clause (A) or (B), use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to be declared effective and such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus to become usable for their intended purpose(s) as soon as practicable thereafter;

(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the applicable period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold; cause the Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

(iii) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, advise selling Holders promptly and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement under the Securities Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, or any state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Registrable Securities under state securities or blue sky laws, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time;

 

-9-


(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish without charge, upon request, to each selling Holder named in any Shelf Registration Statement and to counsel for the Dealer Managers, at least two Business Days before filing with the Commission, copies of any Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus included therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of such Shelf Registration Statement);

(v) [reserved];

(vi) [reserved];

(vii) if requested by any selling Holders, promptly incorporate in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such information as such selling Holders may reasonably request to have included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the “Plan of Distribution” of the Registrable Securities, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(viii) [reserved];

(ix) furnish to each selling Holder, upon request, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference) if such documents are not available via EDGAR;

(x) deliver to each selling Holder, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and the sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto if such documents are not available via EDGAR;

(xi) enter into such agreements, and make such representations and warranties, and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement, all to such extent as may be reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities and only as are customarily entered into, made or taken in similar circumstances in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement; and the Company shall:

 

-10-


(A) furnish to each selling Holder in such substance and scope as they may reasonably request and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings, upon the date of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement:

(1) a certificate, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, signed by the Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer of the Company, confirming, as of the date thereof, the matters set forth in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 6(l) of the Dealer Manager Agreement and such other matters as such parties may reasonably request;

(2) a customary opinion, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, of counsel for the Company, covering the matters set forth in Section 6(d) of the Dealer Manager Agreement and such other matter as such parties may reasonably request; and

(3) a customary comfort letter, dated the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, from the Company’s independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of the type customarily requested to be covered in comfort letters by underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, and covering or affirming the matters set forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 6(i) of the Dealer Manager Agreement, without exception;

(B) set forth in full or incorporate by reference in the underwriting agreement, if any, the indemnification provisions and procedures of Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

(C) deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such parties to evidence compliance with Section 6(c)(xi)(A) hereof and with any customary conditions contained in any agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to this Section 6(c)(xi), if any.

If at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated in Section 6(c)(xi)(A)(1) hereof cease to be true and correct, the Company shall so advise each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;

 

-11-


(xii) prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the selling Holders and their respective counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the Registrable Securities under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders may reasonably request and do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (B) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction, (C) subject itself to taxation or tariff in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject or (D) make any change to its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents;

(xiii) issue, upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, Exchange Securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities surrendered to the Company by such Holder in exchange therefor or being sold by such Holder; such Exchange Securities to be registered in the name of such Holder or in the name of the purchaser(s) of such Securities, as the case may be; in return, the Initial Securities held by such Holder shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation;

(xiv) use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the selling Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities made by such Holders;

(xv) [reserved];

(xvi) if any fact or event contemplated by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof shall exist or have occurred, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Registrable Securities, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading;

(xvii) provide a CUSIP number for all Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement covering such Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture with printed certificates for such Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and take all other action necessary to ensure that all such Securities are eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;

(xviii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA;

 

-12-


(xix) otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (A) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering or (B) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of the Company’s first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement; and

(xx) cause the applicable Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement required by this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of Securities to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and to execute and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Registrable Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. If so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof or shall have received the Advice; provided, however, that no such extension shall be taken into account in determining whether Additional Interest is due pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the amount of such Additional Interest, it being agreed that the Company’s option to suspend use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated as a Registration Default for purposes of Section 5 hereof.

 

-13-


SECTION 7. Registration Expenses.

(a) All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees and expenses (including filings made by any Dealer Manager or Holder with FINRA (and, if applicable, the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” and its counsel that may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA)); (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state securities or blue sky laws; (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses), messenger and delivery services; (iv) all reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket disbursements of counsel for the Company and, subject to Section 7(b) hereof, the Holders of Registrable Securities; and (v) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

(b) In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement required by this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement for the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP or such other counsel as may be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being prepared.

(c) Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.

SECTION 8. Indemnification.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Holder and (ii) each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) any Holder (any of the Persons referred to in this clause (ii) being hereinafter referred to as a “controlling person”) and (iii) the respective officers and directors, of any Holder or any controlling person (any Person referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) may hereinafter be referred to as an “Indemnified Holder”), to the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions and expenses (including, without limitation, and as incurred, reimbursement of all reasonable costs of investigating, preparing, pursuing, settling, compromising, paying or defending any claim or action, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, including the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel to any Indemnified Holder), joint or several, directly or indirectly caused by, related to, based upon, arising out of or in connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses are caused by an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that is made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any of the Holders furnished in writing to the Company by any of the Holders expressly for use therein. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

 

-14-


In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the Company, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Company in writing; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement except to the extent that it has been prejudiced by such failure (through the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses) and shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to any Indemnified Holder other than under this Agreement. The Company shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent it shall elect, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the Indemnified Holder promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such Indemnified Holder, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Holder. Any Indemnified Holder shall have the right to retain its own counsel if (i) the Company does not elect to so assume the defense thereof within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of action, (ii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and the Indemnified Holder and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, (iii) there are legal defenses available to the Indemnified Holder and/or other Indemnified Holders which are different from or additional to those available to the Company or (iv) the Company and the Indemnified Holder shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, and the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Company (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Holder is not entitled to indemnification hereunder). The Company shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable and documented fees and out-of-pocket expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any one local counsel in each jurisdiction) at any time for such Indemnified Holders, which firm shall be designated by the Holders. The Company shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected with the Company’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, and the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the written consent of the Company. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding.

 

-15-


(b) Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors, officers of the Company who sign a Registration Statement, and any Person controlling (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, and the respective officers and directors of each such Person, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each of the Indemnified Holders, but only with respect to claims and actions based on information relating to such Holder furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement. In case any action or proceeding shall be brought against the Company or its directors or officers or any such controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against a Holder of Registrable Securities, such Holder shall have the rights and duties given the Company, and the Company, its directors and officers and such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to each Holder by the preceding paragraph.

(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or (b) hereof (other than by reason of exceptions provided in those Sections) in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, actions or expenses referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from the exchange of Initial Securities (which in the case of the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total principal amount of the Initial Securities), the amount of Additional Interest which did not become payable as a result of the Consummation of the Exchange Offer resulting in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments actions or expenses, and the Registration Statement, or if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Indemnified Holder on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Indemnified Holders, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph of Section 8(a) hereof, any legal or other reasonable and documented fees or out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in the immediately

 

-16-


preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other reasonable and documented fees or out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, none of the Holders (and its related Indemnified Holders) shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discount received by such Holder with respect to the Initial Securities exceeds the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Initial Securities held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.

SECTION 9. Rule 144A. The Company hereby agrees with each Holder of a series of Registrable Securities, for so long as any Registrable Securities of such series remain outstanding (unless the Company is subject to and complies with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act), to make available to such Holder or beneficial owner of such Registrable Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Registrable Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

SECTION 10. Miscellaneous.

(a) Remedies. The Company hereby agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agree to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.

(c) Adjustments Affecting the Securities. The Company will not take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to the Securities that would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Holders to Consummate any Exchange Offer.

(d) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, with respect to any series of Registrable Securities, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has (i) in the case of Section 5 hereof and this Section 10(d)(i), obtained the written consent of

 

-17-


Holders of all outstanding Registrable Securities of such series and (ii) in the case of all other provisions hereof, obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Registrable Securities of such series (excluding any Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to or departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose securities are being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights of other Holders whose securities are not being tendered pursuant to such Exchange Offer may be given by the Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of applicable Registrable Securities being tendered or registered; provided, however, that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Dealer Manager hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Dealer Manager with respect to which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver, consent or departure is to be effective.

(e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

(i) if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the registrar under the Indenture; and

if to the Company:

Northrop Grumman Corporation

2980 Fairview Park Drive

Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Attention: Corporate Vice President and Secretary

with a copy to:

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

825 8th Avenue

New York, New York 10019-7475

Fax: (212) 474-3700

Attention: Stephen L. Burns and Matthew G. Jones

If to the Dealer Managers:

BofA Securities, Inc.

The Hearst Building

214 North Tryon Street, 14th Floor

Charlotte, NC 28255

Fax: (980) 388-0838

Attention: Debt Advisory

 

-18-


BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Email: dl.us.liability.management@us.bnpparibas.com

Attention: Liability Management Group

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 South Tyron Street, 5th Floor

Charlotte, NC 28202

Email: liabilitymanagement@wellsfargo.com

Attention: Liability Management Group

with copies to:

BofA Securities, Inc.

1540 Broadway NY8-540-26-02

New York, New York 10036

Fax: (646) 855-5958

Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Fax: (212) 455-2502

Attention: Art Robinson

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.

(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without limitation, and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign acquired Registrable Securities from such Holder.

 

-19-


(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THEREOF.

(j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Dealer Manager Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

-20-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
By:   /s/ David F. Keffer
Name:   David F. Keffer
Title:   Corporate Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement]


The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By:   /s/ David Scott
  Name: David Scott
  Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement]


BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
By:   /s/ Amir Nouri
  Name: Amir Nouri
  Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement]


WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By:   /s/ Brian Thomas
  Name: Brian Thomas
  Title: Director

[Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement]