Document:

beard-ex107_16.htm

Exhibit 10.7

 

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of November 23, 2021, by and between Beard Energy Transition Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [●] (“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations.

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals as directors and officers, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect such persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors and officers are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). The Charter, Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement and reimbursement rights.

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons.

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future.

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities.

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder. 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee may not be willing to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve or continue to serve for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.SERVICES TO THE COMPANY. In consideration of the Company’s covenants and obligations hereunder, Indemnitee will serve or continue to serve as an officer, director or key employee of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders Indemnitee’s resignation or until Indemnitee is removed. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company, as provided in Section 17. This Agreement, however, shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.

2.DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement:

(a)“Affiliate” shall mean with respect to any Person, any Person directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such Person.

(b)References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

(c)The terms “Beneficial Owner” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below) as in effect on the date hereof.

(d)A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

(i)Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Other than an Affiliate of Beard Energy Transition Acquisition Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors (as defined below) and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;

(ii)Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on the date hereof or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the “Continuing Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

(iii)Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries (as defined below)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) other than the Sponsor or its Affiliate, no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting power of the then 

2

 

outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination;

(iv)Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than factoring the Company’s current receivables or escrows due (or, if such stockholder approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or

(v)Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or any successor rule) (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

(e)“Control” (including the correlative terms “Controlled by” and “Controlling”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, or to cause the direction of, the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(f)“Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise (as defined below) which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

(g)“Delaware Court” shall mean the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.

(h)“Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(i)“Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, manager, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.

(j)“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(k)“Expenses” shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding (as defined below), including reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. “Expenses” also shall include expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding (as defined below), including without limitation the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. “Expenses,” however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(l)References to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan and any fines imposed on Indemnitee by any governmental authority; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee 

3

 

acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

(m)“Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience in matters of corporation law and that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements); or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding (as defined below) giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(n)The term “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiaries (as defined below) of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

(o)The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative or related nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness, or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by Indemnitee or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.

(p)The term “Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.

3.INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

4

 

4.INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, to be held harmless or to exoneration.

5.INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

6.INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except for Section 27, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness or deponent in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee was or is not a party or threatened to be made a party, Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

7. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, HOLD HARMLESS AND EXONERATION RIGHTS. Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, except for Section 27, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights shall be available under this Section 7 on account of Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.

8.CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY.

(a)To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding 

5

 

without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.

(b)The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

(c)The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

9.EXCLUSIONS. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, except for Section 27, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, advance of expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

(a)for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, or other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity or advancement provision or otherwise;

(b)for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or

(c)except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(f)-(g) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, advance of expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law. Indemnitee shall seek payments or advances from the Company only to the extent that such payments or advances are unavailable from any insurance policy of the Company covering Indemnitee.

10.ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM.

(a)Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, except for Section 27, and to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Company shall pay the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. To the fullest extent required by applicable law, such payments of Expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon the Company’s receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay the advanced amounts to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Charter, the Bylaws, applicable law or otherwise. This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, advance of expenses, hold harmless or exoneration payment is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

(b)The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

6

 

(c)The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

11.PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.

(a)Indemnitee agrees to promptly notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding, claim, issue or matter therein which may be subject to indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, or otherwise.

(b)Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in Indemnitee’s sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

12.PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.

(a)A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board or (ii) by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(b)In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person or law firm so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection 

7

 

which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person or law firm selected by the Delaware Court, and the person or law firm with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person or law firm so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

(c)The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or such Independent Counsel’s engagement pursuant hereto.

13.PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.

(a)In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by the Disinterested Directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b)If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

(c)The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

(d)For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors, managers, or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, the Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member of the Enterprise, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, the Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member of the Enterprise, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, the Board, any committee of the Board or any director, trustee, general partner, manager or managing member of the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

8

 

(e)The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

14.REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.

(a)In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made in accordance with this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court to such indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b)In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. 

(c)In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).

(d)If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(e)The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

(f)The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee: (i) to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Charter 

9

 

or the Bylaws now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith).

(g)Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under Delaware law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or advances, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate or advance for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee requests indemnification, to be held harmless, exonerated, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

15.SECURITY. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, except for Section 27, to the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

16.NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION.

(a)The rights of Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any Proceeding (regardless of when such Proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) or claim, issue or matter therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Charter, the  Bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b)The DGCL and the Bylaws permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (“Indemnification Arrangements”) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against Indemnitee or incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the DGCL, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.

(c)To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees, partners, managers, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness, deponent or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company 

10

 

shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(d)In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

(e)The Company’s obligation to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary except for Section 27, (i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior to the Company’s satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall perform fully its obligations under this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification, advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the Company.

17.DURATION OF AGREEMENT. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not Indemnitee  is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement.

18.SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

19.ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.

(a)The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.

(b)Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter or Bylaws as they may be amended from time to time, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(c)The indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation 

11

 

or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, general partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

(d)The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

(e)The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult to prove, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking to the fullest extent permitted by law.

20.MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

21.NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

(a)If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.

(b)If to the Company, to:

Beard Energy Transition Acquisition Corp.

595 Madison Avenue, 29th Floor

New York, NY 10022

 

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 25000

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Ramey Layne

Email: 

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.

22.APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of 

12

 

Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court; and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the parties hereby agree that the mailing of process and other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided by Section 21 or in such other manner as may be permitted by law, shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

23.IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by electronic delivery of a counterpart in PDF format), each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

24.MISCELLANEOUS. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate and vice versa. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

25.PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors or administrators or other legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.

26.ADDITIONAL ACTS. If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.

27.WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO TRUST ACCOUNT. Indemnitee hereby agrees that Indemnitee does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (each, a “Claim”) in or to any monies in the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering for the benefit of the Company and holders of shares issued in such offering, and hereby waives any Claim Indemnitee may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Company and will not seek recourse against such trust account for any reason whatsoever.

28. MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the Company is obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the officers and directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. The Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies. In all such insurance policies, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors and officers.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

13

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indemnification Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

					
	
BEARD ENERGY TRANSITION ACQUISITION CORP.

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
Name:
	
 
	
Gregory A. Beard

	
 
	
 
	
Title:
	
 
	
Chief Executive Officer

 

 

					
	
INDEMNITEE

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
Name:
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
Address:
	
 
	
 

 

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

 

 

Schedule I

 

The Company entered into an Indemnification Agreement with each of Gregory A. Beard, Sarah James, Charles Cherington and Robert C. Reeves.EX-4.1

 Exhibit 4.1 

[Form of Fixed/Floating Rate Notes due 2027] 
  

			
	Registered No. 1	  	CUSIP No. 38141GZC1
		  	ISIN No. CA38141GZC19

 (Face of Security) 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE AS DEFINED HEREIN ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A
DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. 
 UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
CDS CLEARING AND DEPOSITORY SERVICES INC. (“CDS”) TO THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IN RESPECT THEREOF IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CDS &
CO., OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF CDS (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CDS & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF CDS), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED HOLDER HEREOF, CDS & CO., HAS A PROPERTY INTEREST IN THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HEREIN AND IT IS A VIOLATION OF ITS RIGHTS FOR ANOTHER
PERSON TO HOLD, TRANSFER OR DEAL WITH THIS CERTIFICATE. 
 UNLESS PERMITTED UNDER SECURITIES LEGISLATION, A HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY MUST NOT TRADE
THE SECURITY BEFORE THE DATE THAT IS FOUR (4) MONTHS AND A DAY AFTER THE LATER OF (I) NOVEMBER 30, 2021, AND (II) THE DATE THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. BECAME A REPORTING ISSUER IN ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF CANADA. 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, NOR IS IT AN OBLIGATION
OF, OR GUARANTEED BY, A BANK. 
 (Face of Security continued on next page) 

 THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC. 

2.599% Fixed/Floating Rate Notes due 2027 

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the
“Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture as defined on the reverse of this Security), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CDS & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of One Billion
Canadian Dollars (CAD1,000,000,000) on November 30, 2027. The Company further promises to pay interest on said principal sum as follows: 

Prior to November 30, 2026. The Company will pay interest on the principal sum hereof at the rate of 2.599% per
annum from and including November 30, 2021 (or from the most recent Interest Payment Date prior to November 30, 2026 to which interest has been paid or duly provided for) to but excluding November 30, 2026 (or, if the Maturity of
the principal hereof occurs prior to such date, until the earlier of such date or the date the principal is paid or made available for payment), payable semi-annually. Such interest will be payable in arrears on May 30 and November 30 of
each year, commencing on May 30, 2022 to, and including, November 30, 2026 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), and at any Maturity of the principal hereof prior to such date. 

On and after November 30, 2026. The Company will pay interest on the principal sum hereof at a floating rate per
annum of 0.601% above CDOR, determined in accordance with the provisions below and reset effective each Interest Reset Date, from and including November 30, 2026 (or from the most recent Interest Payment Date thereafter to which interest
has been paid or duly provided for) until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Such interest will be payable quarterly in arrears on February 28, May 30, August 30 and November 30 in each year, commencing
on February 28, 2027 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), and at the Maturity of the principal hereof on or after November 30, 2026. 

Any installment of interest that is overdue shall also bear interest at the same rate in effect during the Interest Period ending on the day
prior to the due date of such installment of interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the date any such overdue installment first becomes due until it is paid or made available for payment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest on any installment of interest that is overdue shall be payable on demand, subject to the provisions in the Indenture. 

  
 (Face of Security
continued on next page) 
 -2- 

 Interest on this Security payable, for a full interest period, on an Interest Payment Date
on or before November 30, 2026 shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the amount of interest payable, for any period less than
a full semi-annual period, on or before November 30, 2026 shall be computed on an Actual/365 (Fixed) basis, meaning a 365-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in such partial period. Interest on
this Security payable on an Interest Payment Date after November 30, 2026 shall be computed on an Actual/365 (Fixed) basis as well. Payments of interest on this Security with respect to any Interest Payment Date, or at the Maturity of the
principal hereof, will include interest accrued to but excluding such Interest Payment Date or the date of such Maturity, as the case may be. In the case of interest payable for any period less than a full semi-annual period, accrued interest from
the date of issue or from the last date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent by multiplying the principal amount by an accrued interest factor. Such accrued interest factor shall be
computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day from and including the date of issue or from and including the last date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, to but excluding the date for which accrued interest is
being calculated. The interest factor for each such day shall be expressed as a decimal and computed by dividing the interest rate (also expressed as a decimal) in effect on such day by 365. 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest on this Security (i) shall not at any time be less than 0% on an accrual basis, and
(ii) shall not be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as it may be modified by U.S. law of general applicability. 

For the purposes of this Security, CDOR will be determined in the following manner: 

(i) CDOR will be an interest rate per annum equal to the arithmetic average (rounded upwards to the nearest whole multiple of 0.00001%)
of the annual bid rates of interest for Canadian dollar bankers’ acceptances having a 90-day term to maturity (or a term as closely as possible comparable to such maturity) that appears on the Refinitiv
Benchmark Services (UK) Limited CDOR Page (or any successor or replacement page) as of 10:15 a.m. (Toronto time) on the Interest Reset Date for such Interest Period. 

(ii) If fewer than three such bid rates appear on the Refinitiv Benchmark Services (UK) Limited CDOR Page as of 10:15 a.m. (Toronto time) on
the related Interest Reset Date, then CDOR for such Interest Period shall be determined by the Calculation Agent using a substitute or successor base rate that it has determined in its sole discretion is most comparable to CDOR. If the Calculation
Agent determines on the relevant Interest Reset Date that CDOR has been discontinued, then the Calculation Agent will use a substitute or successor base rate that it has determined in its sole discretion is most comparable to CDOR, provided that if
the Calculation Agent determines there is an industry-accepted successor base rate, then the Calculation Agent shall use such successor base rate. If the Calculation Agent has determined a substitute or

  
 (Face of Security
continued on next page) 
 -3- 

 
successor base rate in accordance with the foregoing, the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion may determine the business day convention, the definition of business day and the Interest Reset
Date to be used and any other relevant methodology for calculating such substitute or successor base rate, including any adjustment factor needed to make such substitute or successor base rate comparable to CDOR, in a manner that is consistent with
industry-accepted practices for such substitute or successor base rate. Unless the Calculation Agent uses a substitute or successor rate as so provided, if CDOR is unavailable and/or cannot be determined in the manner described above on the
determination date, CDOR will be determined by the Calculation Agent, after consulting such sources as it deems comparable to the foregoing display page, or any other source it deems reasonable, in its sole discretion. 

The Calculation Agent’s determination of any interest rate, and its calculation of the amount of interest for any interest period, will
be on file at our principal offices, will be made available to any noteholder upon request and will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error. 

All Canadian dollar amounts resulting from the calculation of interest, as described above during the relevant periods, will be rounded to the
nearest cent. 
 For all purposes of this Security: 

The term “Refinitiv Benchmark Services (UK) Limited CDOR Page” means the display designated as the “CDOR03” page on the
Refinitiv Benchmark Services (UK) Limited (or such other page as may replace the CDOR page on that service) for the purpose of displaying, among other things, Canadian dollar bankers’ acceptance rates. 

The term “Interest Period” means the period beginning on and including November 30, 2021 to, but excluding, the first Interest
Payment Date and each successive period from and including an Interest Payment Date to but excluding the next Interest Payment Date (or, in any such case if applicable, to the Maturity of the principal hereof), subject to the provisions under
“Payments Due on a Business Day” below. 
 The term “Interest Reset Date” means every February 28, May 30,
August 30 and November 30, commencing on November 30, 2026, on each of which the rate of interest on this Security will be reset. If any Interest Reset Date after November 30, 2026 would otherwise be a day that is not a Business
Day with respect to this Security, then such Interest Reset Date shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day; provided that, if such next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, then such Interest Reset Date
shall be advanced to the immediately preceding Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Interest Reset Date on November 30, 2026 and any Interest Reset Date that falls on the Maturity of the principal hereof will not be changed,
provided that, if any such Interest Reset Date is not a Business Day with respect to this Security, the determination of any floating rate of interest that takes effect on such date shall be determined on the next succeeding Business Day.

  
 (Face of Security
continued on next page) 
 -4- 

 Other than calculations of CDOR as described above, all percentages resulting from any
calculation with respect to this Security shall be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the next higher or lower one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point (e.g., 9.876541% (or .09876541) being rounded down to 9.87654% (or
..0987654) and 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded up to 9.87655% (or .0987655)). All amounts used in or resulting from any calculation with respect to this Security will be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the nearest cent with one-half or more of a cent being rounded upward. 
 The interest so payable, and punctually paid or made
available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for
such interest, which shall be the calendar day (whether or not a Business Day, as defined below) next preceding such Interest Payment Date (or, if such interest is to be paid on another day as provided below, next preceding such other day). Any
interest so payable, but not punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and such Defaulted Interest may either be paid to the Person in
whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) 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, notice whereof being given to the Holder of this
Security not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required
by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. For the purpose of determining the Holder at the close of business on any relevant record date when business is not being conducted, the close of business will mean 5:00 P.M., New York
City time, on that day. 
 Solely for the purposes of disclosure under the Interest Act (Canada), the yearly rate of interest to
which interest calculated under the Security for any period in any calendar year (the “calculation period”) is equivalent, is the rate payable under the Security in respect of the calculation period multiplied by a fraction the numerator
of which is the actual number of days in such calendar year and the denominator of which is the actual number of days in the calculation period. 

  
 (Face of Security
continued on next page) 
 -5- 

 Currency and Manner of Payment 

Payment of the principal of and premium or interest on this Security will be made in Canadian dollars. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Security or the Indenture, if this Security is a Global Security, any payment in respect of this Security may be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary as permitted in the Indenture. 

Subject to the prior paragraph and except as provided in the next paragraph, payment of any amount payable on this Security will be made at
the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in Toronto, Ontario (and at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose), against surrender of this Security in the case of any payment due at the Maturity of
the principal hereof (other than any payment of interest that first becomes due on an Interest Payment Date); provided, however, that, at the option of the Company and subject to the next paragraph, payment of interest may be made by
check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. 
 Subject to the second
preceding paragraph, payment of any amount payable on this Security will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in Toronto, Ontario if (i) the principal of this Security
is at least CAD1,000,000 and (ii) the Holder entitled to receive such payment transmits a written request for such payment to be made in such manner to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, on or
before the fifth Business Day before the day on which such payment is to be made; provided that, in the case of any such payment due at the Maturity of the principal hereof (other than any payment of interest that first becomes due on an
Interest Payment Date), this Security must be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in Toronto, Ontario (or at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose) in time for the Paying
Agent to make such payment in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Any such request made with respect to any payment on this Security payable to a particular Holder will remain in effect for all later payments on this Security
payable to such Holder, unless such request is revoked on or before the fifth Business Day before a payment is to be made, in which case such revocation shall be effective for such payment and all later payments. In the case of any payment of
interest payable on an Interest Payment Date, such written request must be made by the Person who is the registered Holder of this Security on the relevant Regular Record Date. The Company will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks in
connection with making payments by wire transfer with respect to this Security, but any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon any payment will be borne by the Holder of this Security and may be deducted from the payment by the
Company or the Paying Agent. 
 The Company will at all times maintain an office or agency in Toronto, Ontario for the payment of principal,
interest and any other amount on this Security. The Company’s initial Paying Agent shall be BNY Trust Company of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. 

  
 (Face of Security
continued on next page) 
 -6- 

 References in this Security to Canadian dollars shall mean, as of any time, the coin or
currency that is legal tender for the payment of private and public debt in Canada. 
 Payments Due on a Business Day 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Security or the Indenture, if any amount of principal, premium or interest would otherwise be due on this
Security on a day (the “Specified Day”) that is not a Business Day, such amount may be paid or made available for payment on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if such amount were paid on the Specified
Day, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from the Specified Day to such next succeeding Business Day. Interest Periods shall not be adjusted for non-Business Days, except as
provided in the next paragraph. 
 If an Interest Payment Date scheduled to occur after November 30, 2026 would otherwise be a day that
is not a Business Day, that Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day; provided that, if such next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, the Interest Payment Date shall be advanced to
the immediately preceding Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Interest Payment Date that falls on the Maturity of the principal hereof will not be changed. Any Interest Period beginning on or ending immediately prior to an Interest
Payment Date that is postponed or advanced as provided in this paragraph shall be adjusted accordingly. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial Interest Period during the period beginning on November 30, 2026 shall begin on November 30,
2026. 
 For all purposes of this Security, “Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not
a day on which banking institutions generally are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close in The City of New York or Toronto, Ontario. The provisions of this section shall apply to this Security in lieu of the provisions of
Section 1.13 of the Indenture. 
 Payments Made in U.S. Dollars 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Security or the Indenture, if any amount payable on this Security is payable on any day and if Canadian
dollars are not available to the Company on the two Business Days before such day, due to the imposition of exchange controls, disruption in a currency market or any other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled
to satisfy its obligation to pay such amount in Canadian dollars by making such payment in U.S. dollars. The amount of such payment in U.S. dollars shall be determined by an Exchange Rate Agent to be appointed by the Company, on the basis of the
noon buying rate for cable transfers in The City of New York for Canadian dollars (the “Exchange Rate”) as of the latest day before the day on which such payment is to be made. Any payment made under such circumstances in U.S. dollars
where the required payment is in Canadian dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under this Security or the Indenture. 

  
 (Face of Security
continued on next page) 
 -7- 

 Exchange Rate Agent 

As used herein, the “Exchange Rate Agent” shall mean such agent appointed by the Company to act with respect to this series after the
date of issuance (including any affiliate of the Company); provided that the Company may, and in its sole discretion, appoint any other institution (including any affiliate of the Company) to serve as any such agent from time to time. The
Company will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any change in any such appointment. Insofar as this Security provides for any such agent to obtain rates, quotes or other data from a bank, dealer or other institution for use in making any
determination hereunder, such agent may do so from any institution or institutions of the kind contemplated hereby notwithstanding that any one or more of such institutions are any such agent, affiliates of any such agent or affiliates of the
Company. 
 All determinations made by the Exchange Rate Agent pursuant to the terms of this Security shall be, absent manifest error,
conclusive for all purposes and binding on the holder of this Security and the Company, and the Exchange Rate Agent shall have no liability therefor. 

Calculation Agent 

As used herein, the “Calculation Agent” shall initially mean Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC; provided that the Company may, in its
sole discretion, appoint any other institution (including any affiliate of the Company) to serve as any such agent from time to time. The Company will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any change in any such appointment. Insofar as this
Security provides for any such agent to obtain rates, quotes or other data from a bank, dealer or other institution for use in making any determination hereunder, such agent may do so from any institution or institutions of the kind contemplated
hereby notwithstanding that any one or more of such institutions are any such agent, affiliates of any such agent or affiliates of the Company. All determinations made by the Calculation Agent may be made by such agent in its sole discretion and,
absent manifest error, shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Holder of this Security and the Company. The Calculation Agent shall not have any liability therefor. 

 
  

 

  
 (Face of Security
continued on next page) 
 -8- 

 Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security 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 by manual or electronic signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. 

  
 (Face of Security
continued on next page) 
 -9- 

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

Dated: November 30, 2021 
  

			
	THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.
		
	By:	 	  

		 	Name:
		 	Title:

 This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the Indenture. 

Dated: November 30, 2021 
  

			
	THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee
		
	By:	 	  

		 	Authorized Signatory

  

 (Reverse of Security) 

1. Securities and Indenture.  

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”) issued and to be issued
in one or more series under a Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2008 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon,
as Trustee (herein called 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 of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. 

2. Series and Denominations. 

This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited to an aggregate principal amount as shall be determined and may be
increased from time to time by the Company. Any election by the Company so to increase such aggregate principal amount shall be evidenced by a certificate of an Authorized Person (as defined in the Determination of an Authorized Person, dated
November 30, 2021, with respect to this series). References herein to “this series” mean the series of Securities designated on the face hereof, provided that, for purposes of Sections 6 and 7 below, the term “series”
(and references to Securities of a series) shall be deemed to refer only to Securities having the same CUSIP number. The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of integral multiples of
CAD1,000, subject to a minimum denomination of CAD100,000. 
 3. Additional Amounts. 

If the beneficial owner of this Security is a United States Alien (as defined below), the Company will pay all additional amounts that may be
necessary so that every net payment of the principal of and interest on this Security to such beneficial owner, after deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed with respect to
such payment by any U.S. Taxing Authority (as defined below), will not be less than the amount provided for in this Security to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to pay additional amounts for or on
account of any one or more of the following: 

  
 (Reverse of Security
continued on next page) 
 -11- 

 (i) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed solely because
at any time there is or was a connection between such beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, shareholder or member of such beneficial owner, if such beneficial owner is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the
United States (as defined below) (other than the mere receipt of a payment on, or the ownership or holding of, a Security), including because such beneficial owner (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, shareholder or member) at any time, for
U.S. federal income tax purposes: (a) is or was a citizen or resident, or is or was treated as a resident, of the United States, (b) is or was present in the United States, (c) is or was engaged in a trade or business in the United
States, (d) has or had a permanent establishment in the United States, (e) is or was a domestic or foreign personal holding company, a passive foreign investment company or a controlled foreign corporation, (f) is or was a corporation
that accumulates earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax or (g) is or was a “10-percent shareholder” of the Company as defined in Section 871(h)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or
any successor provision; 
 (ii) any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed solely because of a change in applicable
law or regulation, or in any official interpretation or application of applicable law or regulation, that becomes effective more than 15 days after the day on which the payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever occurs later; 

(iii) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, wealth or personal property tax or any similar tax, assessment or
other governmental charge; 
 (iv) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed solely because such beneficial
owner or any other Person fails to comply with any certification, identification or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the United States of the Holder or any beneficial owner of this
Security, if compliance is required by statute, by regulation of the U.S. Treasury Department or by an applicable income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, as a precondition to exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental
charge; 
 (v) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding
from payments of principal of or interest on this Security; 
 (vi) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed
solely because the payment is to be made by a particular Paying Agent (which term may include the Company) and would not be imposed if made by another Paying Agent (which term may include the Company); 

  
 (Reverse of Security
continued on next page) 
 -12- 

 (vii) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed solely
because the Holder (1) is a bank purchasing this Security in the ordinary course of its lending business or (2) is a bank that is neither (A) buying this Security for investment purposes only nor (B) buying this Security for
resale to a third party that either is not a bank or holding this Security for investment purposes only; or 
 (viii) any
combination of the taxes, assessments or other governmental charges described in items (i) through (vii) of this Section 3. 

Additional amounts also will not be paid with respect to any payment of principal of or interest on this Security to any United States Alien
who is a fiduciary or a partnership, or who is not the sole beneficial owner of any such payment, to the extent that the Company would not be required to pay additional amounts to any beneficiary or settlor of such fiduciary or any member of such a
partnership, or to any beneficial owner of the payment, if that Person had been treated as the beneficial owner of this Security for this purpose. 

In addition, any amounts to be paid on this Security will be paid net of any deduction or withholding imposed or required pursuant to Sections
1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, or any fiscal or regulatory
legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and no additional amounts will be required to be paid on
account of any such deduction or withholding. 
 The term “United States Alien” means any Person who, for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign corporation, a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual or a nonresident
alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a nonresident alien fiduciary of an estate or trust that is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis on income or gain from this Security. For the purposes of this Section 3
and Section 4 only, (a) the term “United States” means the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), together with the territories, possessions and all other areas subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States of America and (b) the term “U.S. Taxing Authority” means the United States of America or any state, other jurisdiction or taxing authority in the United States. 

Except as specifically provided in this Security, the Company shall not be required to make any payment with respect to any tax, assessment or
other governmental charge imposed by any government or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein. 

  
 (Reverse of Security
continued on next page) 
 -13- 

 Whenever in the Securities of this series (or in the Indenture, including in Sections
5.01(1) and (2) thereof, insofar as applicable to this series) there is a reference, in any context, to the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of this series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of any
payment of additional amounts to United States Aliens in respect of such payment of principal or interest to the extent that, in such context, such additional amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to this Section 3
or any corresponding section of another Security of this series, as the case may be. Express mention of the payment of additional amounts in any provision of any Security of this series shall not be construed as excluding additional amounts in the
provisions of any Security of this series (or of the Indenture insofar as it applies to this series) where such express mention is not made. 

4. Redemption at the Company’s Option. 

(a) The Securities of this series may be redeemed, as a whole but not in part, at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to
100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, together with interest accrued and unpaid to but excluding the Redemption Date, if, as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws or regulations of any U.S. Taxing Authority
(as defined in Section 3 above), or any amendment to or change in any official interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, which amendment or change becomes effective or is announced on or after November 22, 2021, the
Company will become obligated to pay, on the next Interest Payment Date, additional amounts in respect of any Security of this series pursuant to Section 3 of this Security or any corresponding section of another Security of this series. If the
Company becomes entitled to redeem the Securities of this series, it may do so on any day thereafter pursuant to the Indenture; provided, however, that (1) the Company gives the Holder of this Security notice of such redemption
not more than 60 days nor less than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date as provided in the Indenture, (2) no such notice of redemption may be given earlier than 90 days prior to the next Interest Payment Date on which the Company would be
obligated to pay such additional amounts and (3) at the time such notice is given, such obligation to pay such additional amounts remains in effect. Immediately prior to the giving of any notice of redemption of Securities pursuant to this
Section 4(a), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth in reasonable detail a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent
to the right of the Company to so redeem the Securities have occurred. Interest installments due on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Security or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of
business on the relevant record date, all as provided in the Indenture. 

  
 (Reverse of Security
continued on next page) 
 -14- 

 (b) In addition, the Securities of this series may be redeemed, at the Company’s
option, in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, on or after May 30, 2022 (or, if any additional Securities of this series are issued after November 30, 2021, beginning six months after the last issue date for the additional
Securities of this series), and to, but excluding, November 30, 2026, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed or (ii) the Canada Yield Price, as described below, plus,
in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the Redemption Date. Notice of a redemption pursuant to this Section 4(b) must be provided to the Holder of this Security not more than 60 days nor less than 10 days prior to the
Redemption Date. Interest installments due on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Security or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record date, all as provided in the
Indenture. 
 The “Canada Yield Price” of the Securities of this series (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall be
calculated to provide a yield to maturity, compounded semi-annually and calculated in accordance with generally accepted Canadian financial practice, equal to the sum of the Government of Canada Yield calculated as of approximately 10:15 a.m.
(Toronto time) on the third business day in Toronto preceding the Redemption Date, plus 25.5 basis points, assuming for this purpose that the Securities of this series would mature on November 30, 2026 (rather than the Stated Maturity of the
principal hereof). 
 “Government of Canada Yield” means, on any date, with respect to any Securities of this series, the yield to
maturity on such date, compounded semi-annually and calculated in accordance with generally accepted Canadian financial practice, which an assumed new issue of non-callable Government of Canada bonds
denominated in Canadian dollars would carry if issued in Canada at 100% of its principal amount on such date, with a term to maturity as nearly as possible equal to the remaining term to maturity of such Securities, assuming for this purpose that
the Securities of this series would mature on November 30, 2026 (rather than the Stated Maturity of the principal hereof). The Government of Canada Yield will be calculated by the Company as the average (rounded to three decimal points) of the bid-side yields determined by two major Canadian investment dealers selected by the Company. 
 (c) In
addition, on November 30, 2026 or on or after October 30, 2027, the Securities of this series may be redeemed, at the Company’s option, in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the
Securities to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the Redemption Date. Notice of a redemption pursuant to this Section 4(c) must be provided to the Holder of this Security not more than 60 days nor less than
10 days prior to the Redemption Date. Interest installments due on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Security or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record date,
all as provided in the Indenture. 

  
 (Reverse of Security
continued on next page) 
 -15- 

 5. Defeasance. 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants,
Events of Default and Covenant Breaches with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. Both of such provisions are applicable to this Security. 

6. Modification and 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 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 all Securities at the time Outstanding to
be affected, considered together as one class for this purpose (such Securities to be affected may be Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any series, may comprise fewer than all the Securities of such series). The
Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding to be affected under the Indenture, considered together as one class for this purpose (such affected
Securities may be Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any particular series, may comprise fewer than all the Securities of such series), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities so affected, to waive compliance by the
Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of any series to be affected under the Indenture (with each such series considered
separately for this purpose), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and
binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security 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
Security. For the purpose of this paragraph, the term “default” means, with respect to any Securities, any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default or Covenant Breach in respect of such
Securities. 
 7. Remedies. 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series
may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. With respect to this Security, the only Events of Default are payment defaults that continue for 30 days and insolvency events, all as specified in the
Indenture. Any other default under or breach of the Indenture or the Securities will not give rise to an Event of Default, whether after notice, the passage of time or otherwise. 

  
 (Reverse of Security
continued on next page) 
 -16- 

 As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security
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 such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the
Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default or Covenant Breach, as applicable, as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein. 

If so provided pursuant to the terms of any specific Securities, the above-referenced provisions of the Indenture regarding the ability of
Holders to waive certain defaults, or to request the Trustee to institute proceedings (or to give the Trustee other directions) in respect thereof, may be applied differently with regard to such Securities. 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security 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 Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. As used in this Section 7, the term
“series” (and references to the Securities of a series) shall mean only Securities having the same CUSIP number. 
 8.
Transfer and Exchange. 
 As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of
this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed
by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. 

  
 (Reverse of Security
continued on next page) 
 -17- 

 As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth,
Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. 
 Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary. 
 This Security is a Global Security and is subject to the
provisions of the Indenture relating to Global Securities, including the limitations in Section 3.05 thereof on transfers and exchanges of Global Securities except that for the purposes of all Global Securities of this series, the first
sentence of Clause (2) in the last paragraph of Section 3.05 of the Indenture shall be modified to read in its entirety as follows: 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated
by Section 3.01, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global
Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary has notified the Company that it (i) is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a recognized clearing agency under the
Securities Act (Ontario) or a recognized clearing house under the Securities Act (Quebec) or a similarly recognized entity under other applicable Canadian or provincial securities legislation, (B) there shall have occurred and be
continuing an Event of Default or Covenant Breach with respect to such Global Security or (C) the Company has executed and delivered to the Trustee a Company Order stating that such Global Security shall be exchanged in whole for Securities
that are not Global Securities (in which case such exchange shall promptly be effected by the Trustee). 

  
 (Reverse of Security
continued on next page) 
 -18- 

 9. Notices. 

Notices that are required hereunder or under the Indenture to be given to Holders of the Securities of this series shall be given to Holders of
the Securities of this series as set forth in the Indenture. 
 10. Governing Law. 

This Security and the Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. 

11. Terms Defined in the Indenture. 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in
the Indenture. 
  
  

 

  
 (Reverse of Security
continued on next page) 
 -19- 

 ASSIGNMENT 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto _________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER 
 IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF
ASSIGNEE 
  

                          
       
 /________________/ 
  

	
	  
 (Please Print or
Typewrite Name and Address
 Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)

 

	  

 the attached Security and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and
appoints                                       
                       _____________________________________________________________________________________ to transfer said Security
on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises. 
 Dated: 

Signature Guaranteed 
  

					
	  
 NOTICE: Signature must be
guaranteed.
	 	            	  	  
 NOTICE: The signature to this
assignment must correspond with the name of the Holder as written upon the face of the attached Security in every particular, without alteration or any change whatever.

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00337-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00337-of-00352.parquet"}]]