EXHIBIT 10.03
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TOWER GROUP, INC.,
AS ISSUER
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 21, 2004
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS TRUSTEE
FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES
DUE 2035
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS................................................................................1
Section 1.1. Definitions.......................................................................1
ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES.................................................................................7
Section 2.1. Authentication and Dating.........................................................7
Section 2.2. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication...................................8
Section 2.3. Form and Denomination of Debentures...............................................9
Section 2.4. Execution of Debentures...........................................................9
Section 2.5. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures...............................9
Section 2.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures..................................12
Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures.............................................................13
Section 2.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest......................................13
Section 2.9. Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc.............................................14
Section 2.10. Computation of Interest..........................................................15
Section 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period.............................................16
Section 2.12. CUSIP Numbers....................................................................18
Section 2.13. Ranking..........................................................................18
ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.......................................................18
Section 3.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures...18
Section 3.2. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc............................................19
Section 3.3. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office...............................19
Section 3.4. Provision as to Paying Agent.....................................................20
Section 3.5. Certificate to Trustee...........................................................20
Section 3.6. Additional Sums..................................................................21
Section 3.7. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.........................................21
Section 3.8. Limitation on Dividends..........................................................21
Section 3.9. Covenants as to the Trust........................................................22
Section 3.10. Additional Junior Indebtedness...................................................22
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ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE..........................22
Section 4.1. Securityholders Lists............................................................22
Section 4.2. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.............................................23
ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT......................24
Section 5.1. Events of Default................................................................24
Section 5.2. Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor..................................26
Section 5.3. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.......................................27
Section 5.4. Proceedings by Securityholders...................................................28
Section 5.5. Proceedings by Trustee...........................................................28
Section 5.6. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver...............29
Section 5.7. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders...29
Section 5.8. Notice of Defaults...............................................................30
Section 5.9. Undertaking to Pay Costs.........................................................30
ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE....................................................................30
Section 6.1. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee...........................................30
Section 6.2. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.............................................31
Section 6.3. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc..............................................32
Section 6.4. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or
Registrar May Own Debentures.....................................................33
Section 6.5. Moneys to be Held in Trust.......................................................33
Section 6.6. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.............................................33
Section 6.7. Officers' Certificate as Evidence................................................34
Section 6.8. Eligibility of Trustee...........................................................34
Section 6.9. Resignation or Removal of Trustee................................................35
Section 6.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee..................................................36
Section 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc........................................................37
Section 6.12. Authenticating Agents............................................................37
ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS............................................................38
Section 7.1. Action by Securityholders........................................................38
Section 7.2. Proof of Execution by Securityholders............................................39
Section 7.3. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners...................................................39
Section 7.4. Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding...............................39
Section 7.5. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.....................................40
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ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS MEETINGS..................................................................40
Section 8.1. Purposes of Meetings.............................................................40
Section 8.2. Call of Meetings by Trustee......................................................40
Section 8.3. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders...................................41
Section 8.4. Qualifications for Voting........................................................41
Section 8.5. Regulations......................................................................41
Section 8.6. Voting...........................................................................41
Section 8.7. Quorum; Actions..................................................................42
ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES...................................................................43
Section 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.......................43
Section 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders..........................44
Section 9.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures................................................45
Section 9.4. Notation on Debentures...........................................................45
Section 9.5. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee......45
ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES..................................................................45
Section 10.1. Optional Redemption..............................................................45
Section 10.2. Special Event Redemption.........................................................46
Section 10.3. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures....................................46
Section 10.4. Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption......................................47
ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE.........................................47
Section 11.1. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms..................................47
Section 11.2. Successor Entity to be Substituted...............................................48
Section 11.3. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee........................................48
ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE...................................................48
Section 12.1. Discharge of Indenture...........................................................48
Section 12.2. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee..................................49
Section 12.3. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held................................................49
Section 12.4. Return of Unclaimed Moneys.......................................................49
ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS...........................50
Section 13.1. Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations............................50
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ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS..................................................................50
Section 14.1. Successors.......................................................................50
Section 14.2. Official Acts by Successor Entity................................................50
Section 14.3. Surrender of Company Powers......................................................50
Section 14.4. Addresses for Notices, etc.......................................................50
Section 14.5. Governing Law....................................................................51
Section 14.6. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.................................51
Section 14.7. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.................................................51
Section 14.8. Execution in Counterparts........................................................51
Section 14.9. Severability.....................................................................51
Section 14.10. Assignment.......................................................................51
Section 14.11. Acknowledgment of Rights.........................................................52
ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES...............................................................52
Section 15.1. Agreement to Subordinate.........................................................52
Section 15.2. Default on Senior Indebtedness...................................................52
Section 15.3. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy.............................................53
Section 15.4. Subrogation......................................................................54
Section 15.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination..............................................55
Section 15.6. Notice by the Company............................................................55
Section 15.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness............................56
Section 15.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired................................................56
Exhibit A Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture
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THIS INDENTURE, dated as of December 21, 2004, between Tower Group,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National
Association, trustee (the "TRUSTEE").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly
authorized the issuance of its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due 2035 (the "DEBENTURES") under this Indenture to provide,
among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and
administration thereof, and the Company has duly authorized the execution of
this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid
agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and the purchase of
the Debentures by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the
Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from
time to time of the Debentures as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS. The terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as
herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires)
for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto
shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1. All accounting
terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the
term "generally accepted accounting principles" means such accounting principles
as are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation.
The words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import
refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or
other subdivision.
"ADDITIONAL INTEREST" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
"ADDITIONAL JUNIOR INDEBTEDNESS" means, without duplication and other
than the Debentures, (a) any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the
Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees
in respect of debt securities) initially issued on or after the date of this
Indenture to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity
affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance
subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company
Act of 1940) or other financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred securities,
(b) other securities that are issued either junior and subordinate to or on a
PARI PASSU basis with the Debentures or (c) any guarantees of the Company in
respect of the equity or other securities of any entity referred to in clause
(a).
"ADDITIONAL SUMS" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
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"AFFILIATE" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405
under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
"AUTHENTICATING AGENT" means any agent or agents of the Trustee which
at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12.
"BANKRUPTCY LAW" means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal
or state law for the relief of debtors.
"BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the board of directors or the executive
committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company.
"BOARD RESOLUTION" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification and delivered to the Trustee.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other
day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are
permitted or required by any applicable law to close.
"CAPITAL SECURITIES" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust which rank PARI PASSU with Common Securities issued by the Trust;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an
Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such
Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders
of such Capital Securities.
"CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE" means the guarantee agreement that the
Company enters into with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as guarantee
trustee, or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit
of holders of Capital Securities of the Trust.
"CERTIFICATE" means a certificate signed by any one of the principal
executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting
officer of the Company.
"COMMON SECURITIES" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust which rank PARI PASSU with Capital Securities issued by the Trust;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an
Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such
Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders
of such Capital Securities.
"COMPANY" means Tower Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and, subject
to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.
"COMPARABLE TREASURY ISSUE" means with respect to any Special
Redemption Date the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation
Agent as having a maturity comparable to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life
that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with
customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities
of comparable maturity to the Floating Rate Period Remaining Life. If no United
States Treasury security has a maturity which is within a period from three
months before to three months after the Interest Payment Date in March 2010, the
two most closely corresponding floating, non-callable United States Treasury
securities, as selected by the Quotation Agent, shall be used as the Comparable
Treasury Issue, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated on a
straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month using such securities.
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"COMPARABLE TREASURY PRICE" means (a) the average of five Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Special Redemption Date, after excluding the
highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the
Quotation Agent obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.
"COUPON RATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
"DEBENTURE" or "DEBENTURES" has the meaning stated in the first recital
of this Indenture.
"DEBENTURE REGISTER" has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.
"DECLARATION" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
the Trust, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
"DEFAULT" means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse
of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
"DEFAULTED INTEREST" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
"DETERMINATION DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
"DISTRIBUTION PERIOD" means (i) with respect to the first Interest
Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original
issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in March 2005
and (ii) thereafter, with respect to each Interest Payment Date, the period
beginning on (and including) the preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on
(but excluding) such current Interest Payment Date.
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued
for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any,
therein designated.
"EXTENSION PERIOD" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
"FEDERAL RESERVE" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System and any successor federal agency.
"INDENTURE" means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended
or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both.
"INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE" has the meaning set forth in the Declaration.
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"INTEREST PAYMENT DATE" means each March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15 of each year during the term of this Indenture, or if any such day
is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day, commencing in
March 2005.
"INTEREST RATE" means a per annum rate of interest, reset quarterly,
equal to LIBOR, as determined on the LIBOR Determination Date immediately
preceding each Interest Payment Date, plus 3.40%; provided, however, that the
Interest Rate for any Interest Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate
permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law of
general applicability.
"INVESTMENT COMPANY EVENT" means the receipt by the Company and the
Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that,
as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change
(including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of
law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or
regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is
or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be considered an "investment
company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended which change or prospective change becomes effective or would
become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of
the Debentures.
"LIQUIDATION AMOUNT" means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust
Security.
"MATURITY DATE" means March 15, 2035.
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means a certificate signed by the Chief
Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Vice President, and by
the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the
Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in
Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.
"OPINION OF COUNSEL" means an opinion in writing signed by legal
counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include
the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the
provisions of such Section.
"OPTIONAL REDEMPTION DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
"OPTIONAL REDEMPTION PRICE" means 100% of the principal amount of the
Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any
Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Optional Redemption Date.
The term "OUTSTANDING," when used with reference to Debentures, means,
subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all
Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent under this Indenture, except:
(a) Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
4
(b) Debentures, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption
of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with
the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been
set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as
its own paying agent); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if such Debentures, or portions
thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption
shall have been given as provided in Section 10.3 or provision satisfactory to
the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and
(c) Debentures paid pursuant to Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in
substitution for which other Debentures shall have been authenticated and
delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the
Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are held by bona
fide holders in due course.
"PERSON" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
"PREDECESSOR SECURITY" of any particular Debenture means every previous
Debenture evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Debenture; and, for purposes of this definition, any Debenture
authenticated and delivered under Section 2.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or
stolen Debenture shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost,
destroyed or stolen Debenture.
"PRIMARY TREASURY DEALER" means either a nationally recognized primary
United States Government securities dealer or an entity of recognized standing
in matters pertaining to the quotation of treasury securities that is reasonably
acceptable to the Company and the Trustee.
"PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE TRUSTEE," or other similar term, means the
office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust
business shall be principally administered, which at the time of the execution
of this Indenture shall be ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
"QUOTATION AGENT" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, or
its designee, and its successors; provided, however, that if the foregoing shall
cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall substitute therefor
another Primary Treasury Dealer.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer
within the Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice-president, any
assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer,
any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal
Trust Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those
performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect
to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time or any successor legislation.
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"SECURITYHOLDER," "HOLDER OF DEBENTURES," or other similar terms, means
any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debenture is registered on the
register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with
the terms hereof.
"SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the
principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the
Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities,
debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company;
(ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the
Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all
conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company
under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the Company for the
reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker's acceptance, any security
purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest
rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any
similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to
in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons for the payment of which the
Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi)
all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of
other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company
(whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on
or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, "Senior Indebtedness" shall not include (1) any Additional Junior
Indebtedness, (2) Debentures issued pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in
respect of such Debentures, (3) trade accounts payable of the Company arising in
the ordinary course of business (such trade accounts payable being PARI PASSU in
right of payment to the Debentures), or (4) obligations with respect to which
(a) in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the
same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are PARI PASSU, junior
or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the Debentures and (b) the
Company, prior to the issuance thereof, has, if required, notified the relevant
state insurance regulatory agency. Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be
Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions irrespective
of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior
Indebtedness.
"SPECIAL EVENT" means either of an Investment Company Event or a
Tax Event.
"SPECIAL REDEMPTION DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
"SPECIAL REDEMPTION PRICE" means (a) if the Special Event is before the
Interest Payment Date in March 2010, 107.5% of the principal amount of the
Debentures, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on
the Debentures to the occurrence of the Special Event (b) if the Special Event
is on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2010, 100% of the principal
amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest
(including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption
Date.
"SUBSIDIARY" means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation or
limited liability company at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of
which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any
general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the
outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned
by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one
or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such
Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this
definition, "voting stock" means shares, interests, participations or other
equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having
ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the
equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or
other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a
contingency.
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"TAX EVENT" means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an
opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result
of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in
the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling,
technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice
or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such
procedures or regulations (an "ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION")) or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such
Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a
proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to
review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action
or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the
date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial
risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income
received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on
the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not
be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal
income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the
date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes
(excluding withholding taxes), duties or other governmental charges.
"TELERATE PAGE 3750" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
"3-MONTH LIBOR" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
"TRUST" shall mean Tower Group Statutory Trust IV, a Delaware statutory
trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital
Securities in connection with the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture,
of which the Company is the sponsor.
"TRUSTEE" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, and, subject
to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and
assigns as Trustee hereunder.
"TRUST SECURITIES" means Common Securities and Capital Securities of
the Trust.
ARTICLE II
DEBENTURES
SECTION 2.1 AUTHENTICATION AND DATING. Upon the execution and delivery
of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an aggregate
principal amount not in excess of $13,403,000 may be executed and delivered by
the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon
authenticate and make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the
written order of the Company, signed by its Chief Executive Officer, the
President, or one of its Vice Presidents without any further action by the
Company hereunder. In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be
fully protected in relying upon:
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(a) a copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating
thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant
to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, as the case may be; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.6
which shall also state:
(1) that such Debentures, when authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and issued by the Company in each case in the manner and
subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will
have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, will
be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and will be legal, valid
and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company
in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium and other laws
affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and of
general principles of equity; and
(2) that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution
and delivery by the Company of the Debentures have been complied with
and that authentication and delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee
will not violate the terms of this Indenture.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver
any Debentures under this Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by
counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such
action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing holders.
The definitive Debentures shall be typed, printed, lithographed or
engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all
as determined by the officers executing such Debentures, as evidenced by their
execution of such Debentures.
SECTION 2.2. FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. The
Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Debentures shall be in
substantially the following form:
This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By
---------------------------------------------------
Authorized Signer
SECTION 2.3. FORM AND DENOMINATION OF DEBENTURES. The Debentures shall
be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Debentures shall
be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations
of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. Any attempted
transfer of the Debentures in a block having an aggregate principal amount of
less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect
whatsoever. Any such purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a holder of
such Debentures for any purpose, including, but not limited to the receipt of
payments on such Debentures, and such purported transferee shall be deemed to
have no interest whatsoever in such Debentures. The Debentures shall be
numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance
with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the
approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication
thereof.
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SECTION 2.4. EXECUTION OF DEBENTURES. The Debentures shall be signed in
the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of
its Chief Executive Officer, President, or one of its Executive Vice Presidents,
Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents. Only such Debentures as shall bear
thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before
recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual
signature of an authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debenture executed by the Company
shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has been duly
authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the
Debentures shall cease to be such officer before the Debentures so signed shall
have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless may be
authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such
Debentures had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debenture
may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of
the execution of such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company,
although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not
such an officer.
Every Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication.
SECTION 2.5. EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF DEBENTURES. The
Company shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the
purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.2,
a register (the "DEBENTURE REGISTER") for the Debentures issued hereunder in
which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company
shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debentures as in this
Article II provided. The Debenture Register shall be in written form or in any
other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable
time.
Debentures to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office
of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for
such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the
Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor
the Debenture or Debentures which the Securityholder making the exchange shall
be entitled to receive. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any
Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of
the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Company
shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the
name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate
principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Debenture by
the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.2,
and delivery of such Debenture, shall be deemed to complete the registration or
registration of transfer of such Debenture.
9
All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange
or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and
the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his
attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of
transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection therewith.
The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or
register a transfer of any Debenture for a period of 15 days next preceding the
date of selection of Debentures for redemption.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Debentures may not be
transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth
below, unless otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel
expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO
LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE
WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING
OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS
SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL
ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR
OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE
SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT
PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION
OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.
10
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES,
REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH
A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON
OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF
ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH
PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38,
90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF
THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE
CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS
SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS
PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF
THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF
ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH
PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA
OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR
ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS
HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES
OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A
BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
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THIS SECURITY IS IN REGISTERED FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF TREASURY
REGULATIONS SECTION 1.871-14(c)(1)(i) FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND WITHHOLDING
TAX PURPOSES.
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE
REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
SECTION 2.6. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN DEBENTURES. In case
any Debenture shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the
Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, a new Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously
outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in
lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so destroyed, lost or stolen. In
every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall furnish to the
Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to
save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft,
the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to
their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of
the ownership thereof.
The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver
the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the
Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require
the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected
therewith. In case any Debenture which has matured or is about to mature or has
been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost
or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or
authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case
of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the
Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to
save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence
satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft
of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.
Every substituted Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 2.6 by virtue of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or
stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company,
whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any
time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder. All
Debentures shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with
respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Debentures and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies
notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary
with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other
securities without their surrender.
SECTION 2.7. TEMPORARY DEBENTURES. Pending the preparation of
definitive Debentures, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debentures that are
12
typed, printed or lithographed. Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any
authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive
Debentures in lieu of which they are issued but with such omissions, insertions
and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debentures, all as may be
determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debenture shall be executed by
the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in
substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive
Debentures. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to
the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debentures and thereupon any
or all temporary Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the
principal corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any office or agency
maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for
delivery in exchange for such temporary Debentures a like aggregate principal
amount of such definitive Debentures. Such exchange shall be made by the Company
at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any
such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary
Debentures shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture as definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.
SECTION 2.8. PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND ADDITIONAL INTEREST. Interest at
the Interest Rate and any Additional Interest on any Debenture that is payable,
and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for
Debentures shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the
regular record date for such interest installment except that interest and any
Additional Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to
whom principal is paid.
Each Debenture shall bear interest for the period beginning on (and
including) the date of original issuance per annum equal to 3-Month LIBOR,
determined as described in Section 2.10, plus 3.40% (the "COUPON RATE"), applied
to the principal amount thereof, until the principal thereof becomes due and
payable, and on any overdue principal and to the extent that payment of such
interest is enforceable under applicable law (without duplication) on any
overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest
Rate in effect for each applicable period compounded quarterly. Interest shall
be payable (subject to any relevant Extension Period) quarterly in arrears on
each Interest Payment Date with the first installment of interest to be paid on
the Interest Payment Date in March 2005.
Any interest on any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is
payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date (herein called "DEFAULTED INTEREST") shall forthwith cease to be
payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue
of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the
Company to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special
record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in
the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing at least
25 days prior to the date of the proposed payment of the amount of Defaulted
Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the proposed
payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an
amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of
such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when
deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such
Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a
special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not
be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment
and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the
proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special
record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause
notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record
date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder
at its address as it appears in the Debenture Register, not less than 10 days
prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such
Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as
aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names
such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on
such special record date and shall be no longer payable.
13
The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any
Debentures in any other lawful manner after notice given by the Company to the
Trustee of the proposed payment method; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the Trustee in its
sole discretion deems such payment method to be practical.
Any interest (including Additional Interest) scheduled to become
payable on an Interest Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall
not be Defaulted Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be
specified in the terms of such Debentures.
The term "regular record date" as used in this Section shall mean the
close of business on the 15th calendar day next preceding the applicable
Interest Payment Date.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Debenture
delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange
for or in lieu of any other Debenture shall carry the rights to interest accrued
and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Debenture.
SECTION 2.9. CANCELLATION OF DEBENTURES PAID, ETC. All Debentures
surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of
transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be
surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to
the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly canceled by it, and
no Debentures shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Indenture. All Debentures canceled by any
Authenticating Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall
destroy all canceled Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee
in writing. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debentures, however, such
acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the
indebtedness represented by such Debentures unless and until the same are
surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.10. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST. The amount of interest payable
will be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the principal amount
outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each
such amount by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned
divided by 360. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the
Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded
upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655),
and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be
rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).
14
(a) "3-MONTH LIBOR" means the London interbank offered interest rate
for three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following
order of priority:
(1) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S.
dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate
Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination
Date (as defined below). "Telerate Page 3750" means the display
designated as "Page 3750" on the Dow ▇▇▇▇▇ Telerate Service or such
other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other
service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers'
Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying
London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits;
(2) if such rate cannot be identified on the related
Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London
offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide
such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to
prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits
having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month
LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations;
(3) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as
requested in clause (2) above, the Trustee will request four major New
York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as
percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S.
dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If
at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the
arithmetic mean of such quotations; and
(4) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as
requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR
determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately
preceding such current Distribution Period.
If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that
initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the
related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a
corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the
corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable
3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.
15
(b) The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be
higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be
modified by United States law.
(c) "DETERMINATION DATE" means the date that is two London Banking Days
(i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are
transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution
Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined.
(d) The Trustee shall notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee and
any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Capital
Securities are listed, of the Coupon Rate and the Determination Date for each
Distribution Period, in each case as soon as practicable after the determination
thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day of the relevant
Distribution Period. Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or
any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, or any defect in said
notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on the
Debentures at the applicable Coupon Rate. Any error in the calculation of the
Coupon Rate by the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered as
above provided. Upon the request of a holder of a Debenture, the Trustee shall
provide the Coupon Rate then in effect and, if determined, the Coupon Rate for
the next Distribution Period.
(e) Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates,
communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions
given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating
to the payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures and distributions
on the Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in
the absence of willful default, bad faith and manifest error) be final,
conclusive and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the
Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in the absence of
willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Trustee or the
Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by either
of them of their respective powers, duties and discretion.
SECTION 2.11. EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD. So long as no Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right,
from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of
interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the
Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures,
for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment
period, an "EXTENSION PERIOD"), during which Extension Period no interest
(including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional
Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other
than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will
continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will
accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension
Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable
were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such
interest referred to herein as "ADDITIONAL INTEREST"). At the end of any such
Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on
the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; PROVIDED FURTHER,
HOWEVER, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall
16
not permit any Affiliate of the Company controlled by the Company to (i) declare
or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make
a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's or such Affiliate's
capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company
or a Subsidiary of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to
the foregoing; or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium,
if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or
any Affiliate of the Company controlled by the Company that rank PARI PASSU in
all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with
respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other
similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Company or of such Subsidiary (or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's
capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company) for any
class or series of the Company's capital stock (or in the case of a Subsidiary
of the Company, any class or series of such Subsidiary's capital stock) or of
any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the
Company's capital stock (or in the case of indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the
Company, of any class or series of such Subsidiary's indebtedness for any class
or series of such Subsidiary's capital stock), (c) the purchase of fractional
interests in shares of the Company's capital stock (or the capital stock of a
Subsidiary of the Company) pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of
such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or
the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights
plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any
dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the
dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or
other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or
ranks PARI PASSU with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of
fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (f) payments under the
Capital Securities Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period,
the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together
with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not
exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued
and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new
Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or
Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except
at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have
been due and payable during an Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest
to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee
notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period at least 5
Business Days prior to the regular record date (as such term is used in Section
2.8) immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date with respect to which
interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to
begin or extend an Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the
Company's election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders.
17
SECTION 2.12. CUSIP NUMBERS. The Company in issuing the Debentures may
use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall
use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any such notice may state that no representation is made
as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debentures or as
contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on
the other identification numbers printed on the Debentures, and any such
redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the
CUSIP numbers.
SECTION 2.13. RANKING. The Company's obligations in respect of the
Debentures shall rank PARI PASSU with the Company's obligations under (i) the
Indenture dated as of May 15, 2003, in respect of the Company's Floating Rate
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due May 15, 2033 issued
thereunder and under the Guarantee Agreement by and between the Company and U.S.
Bank National Association, dated as of May 15, 2003, (ii) the Indenture dated as
of September 30, 2003, in respect of the Company's Fixed/Floating Rate Junior
Subordinated Note due September 30, 2033 issued thereunder and under the
Guarantee Agreement by and between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, dated as
of September 30, 2003 and (iii) the Indenture dated December 21, 2004 in respect
of the Company's Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Defferable Interest
Debentures due 2034 issued thereunder and under The Guarantee Agreement by and
between the Company and ________________.
ARTICLE III.
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 3.1. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST; AGREED
TREATMENT OF THE DEBENTURES.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually
pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest and
any Additional Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at
the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the
Debentures. Each installment of interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by
mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the holders of
Debentures entitled thereto as they appear on the registry books of the Company
if a request for a wire transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by
wire transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United
States designated in writing by such Person to the paying agent no later than
the related record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of
this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and
interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such
place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee.
(b) The Company will treat the Debentures as indebtedness of the
Company that is in registered form within the meaning of Treasury Regulations
Section 1.871-14(c)(1)(i). The Company will further treat the amounts payable in
respect of the principal amount of such Debentures as interest for all United
States federal income and withholding tax purposes. All interest payments in
respect of such Debentures will be made free and clear of United States
withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal
Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing
its non-United States status for United States federal income and withholding
tax purposes.
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(c) As of the date of this Indenture, the Company has no present
intention to exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest
on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period.
(d) As of the date of this Indenture, the Company believes that the
likelihood that it would exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments
of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period at any time
during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote because of the
restrictions that would be imposed on the Company's ability to declare or pay
dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation
payment with respect to, any of its outstanding equity and on the Company's
ability to make any payments of principal of or interest on, or repurchase or
redeem, any of its debt securities that rank PARI PASSU in all respects with (or
junior in interest to) the Debentures.
SECTION 3.2. OFFICES FOR NOTICES AND PAYMENTS, ETC. So long as any of
the Debentures remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in Wilmington,
Delaware, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment,
an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for registration of
transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency
where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or
of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee written
notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of
location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in
a notice to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section 2.5, such
office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the office or agency of
the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or
agency in Wilmington, Delaware, or shall fail to give such notice of the
location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may
be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.
In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to
time designate one or more offices or agencies outside Wilmington, Delaware,
where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for
exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time
to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or
expedient; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such designation or rescission shall in
any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or
agency in Wilmington, Delaware, for the purposes above mentioned. The Company
will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or
rescission thereof.
SECTION 3.3. APPOINTMENTS TO FILL VACANCIES IN TRUSTEE'S OFFICE. The
Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee,
will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there
shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
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SECTION 3.4. PROVISION AS TO PAYING AGENT.
(a) If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee,
it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an
instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the
provision of this Section 3.4,
(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for
the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether such sums have
been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the
Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the
Debentures;
(2) that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any
failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the
Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures when
the same shall be due and payable; and
(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any
Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee,
forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such
paying agent.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or
before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or
other payments, if any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in
trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to pay
such principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due and will
notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any
failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debentures) to make
any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other
payments, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall become due and payable.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for the
Debentures, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures, deposit with a paying
agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest or other payments
so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled thereto and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall
promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act.
(c) Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and
discharge with respect to the Debentures, or for any other reason, pay, or
direct any paying agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the
Company or any such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
trusts herein contained.
(d) Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement
to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject to Sections
12.3 and 12.4.
SECTION 3.5. CERTIFICATE TO TRUSTEE. The Company will deliver to the
Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as
Debentures are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course
of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company
they would normally have knowledge of any Default during such fiscal year by the
Company in the performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or
not they have knowledge of any such Default and, if so, specifying each such
Default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature and status thereof.
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SECTION 3.6. ADDITIONAL SUMS. If and for so long as the Trust or a
trustee of the Trust is the holder of all Debentures and the Trust is required
to pay any additional taxes (excluding withholding taxes), duties, assessments
or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, then the Company will
pay such additional amounts ("ADDITIONAL SUMS") on the Debentures as shall be
required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after paying
such taxes (excluding withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other
governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received
if no such taxes (excluding withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other
governmental charges had been imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the
Debentures there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or
interest on the Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of
payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent
that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect
thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the
payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be
construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such
express mention is not made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the deferral of the payment
of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer
the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable.
SECTION 3.7. COMPLIANCE WITH CONSOLIDATION PROVISIONS. The Company will
not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge
into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its
property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are
complied with.
SECTION 3.8. LIMITATION ON DIVIDENDS. If Debentures are initially
issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance
of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to
be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an
Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its
payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the
Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on
the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and
such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company
shall not, and shall not permit any Affiliate of the Company controlled by the
Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the
Company's or such Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of dividends or
distributions to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) or make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of
principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company controlled by
the Company that rank PARI PASSU in all respects with or junior in interest to
the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1)
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with any employment
contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of
one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with
21
the issuance of capital stock of the Company or of such Subsidiary (or
securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as
consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable
Extension Period, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or
series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of
the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or in the
case of a Subsidiary of the Company, any class or series of such Subsidiary's
capital stock) or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any
class or series of the Company's capital stock(or in the case of indebtedness of
a Subsidiary of the Company, of any class or series of such Subsidiary's
indebtedness for any class or series of such Subsidiary's capital stock), (3)
the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock
(or the capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company) pursuant to the conversion
or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or
exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any
stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property
under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights
pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or
other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of
such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the
dividend is being paid or ranks PARI PASSU with or junior to such stock and any
cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or
(6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).
SECTION 3.9. COVENANTS AS TO THE TRUST. For so long as the Trust
Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the
Common Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any permitted successor of the
Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of such
Common Securities. The Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall, except
in connection with a distribution of Debentures to the holders of Trust
Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust
Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as
permitted by the Declaration, cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust,
(b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes, and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to
be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures.
SECTION 3.10. ADDITIONAL JUNIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The Company shall not,
and it shall not cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, incur, issue
or be obligated on any Additional Junior Indebtedness, either directly or
indirectly, by way of guarantee, suretyship or otherwise, other than Additional
Junior Indebtedness that, by its terms, is expressly stated to be either junior
and subordinate or PARI PASSU in all respects to the Debentures.
ARTICLE IV.
SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS
BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS. The Company covenants and agrees
that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
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(a) on each regular record date for the Debentures, a list, in such
form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Securityholders of the Debentures as of such record date; and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within
30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar
form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list
is furnished;
except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.1 so long as
the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debenture
registrar.
SECTION 4.2. PRESERVATION AND DISCLOSURE OF LISTS.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of
Debentures (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in
Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures registrar (if so
acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided
in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) In case three or more holders of Debentures (hereinafter referred
to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee
reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for a period of
at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application
states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of
Debentures with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such
Debentures and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other
communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall
within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election,
either:
(1) afford such applicants access to the information preserved
at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions
of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, or
(2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of
holders of Debentures whose names and addresses appear in the
information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance
with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, and
as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders
the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in
such application.
If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such
information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants,
mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information
preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of
subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or other
communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness
after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or
provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within
five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by
applicable law, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written
statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would
be contrary to the best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case
may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall
specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, as permitted or required
by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified
in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any
of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of
such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for
hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an
order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such
Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the
renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any
obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.
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(c) Each and every holder of Debentures, by receiving and holding the
same, agrees with Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the
Trustee nor any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the
disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the holders
of Debentures in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this
Section 4.2, regardless of the source from which such information was derived,
and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any
material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b).
ARTICLE V.
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 5.1. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. "Event of Default," wherever used
herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such
Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected
by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or
any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(a) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any
Debenture when it becomes due and payable, and fails to cure such default for a
period of 30 days; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a valid extension of an interest
payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Indenture
shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or
(b) the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the
principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debentures as and when the same shall
become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of
acceleration or otherwise; or
(c) the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its
covenants or agreements in this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures
established as contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or
agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this
Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for
a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail,
to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders
of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures, a
written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied
and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or
24
(d) a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for
relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect, or shall appoint a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of
its property, or shall order the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and
such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90
consecutive days; or
(e) the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case
under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession
by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other
similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or
shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due; or
(f) the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated,
dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in
connection with (i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of the Trust
Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption
of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (iii) certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the
Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the
Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the
holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the
Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the
Debentures and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable
immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due
and payable.
The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that
if, at any time after the principal of the Debentures shall have been so
declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of
the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i)
the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
all matured installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal
of and premium, if any, on the Debentures which shall have become due otherwise
than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and
Additional Interest) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable
compensation of the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective
agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant
to Section 6.6, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this Indenture,
other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on the
Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured,
waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein -- then and in every such case
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all
defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no
such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any
subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
25
In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under
this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned
because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have
been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the
Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored
respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights,
remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the
Debentures shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
SECTION 5.2. PAYMENT OF DEBENTURES ON DEFAULT; SUIT THEREFOR. The
Company covenants that upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an
Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b) then, upon demand
of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the
holders of the Debentures the whole amount that then shall have become due and
payable on all Debentures for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or
both, as the case may be, with Additional Interest accrued on the Debentures (to
the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law
and, if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such Trust, without
duplication of any other amounts paid by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust in
respect thereof); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable
compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other
amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6. In case the Company shall fail
forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and
as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any
actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due
and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final
decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or
any other obligor on such Debentures and collect in the manner provided by law
out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures
wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.
In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for
the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures under
Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for
the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other
similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the
Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other
obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debentures
shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of
acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have
made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be
entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,
(a) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of
principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the
Debentures,
(b) in case of any judicial proceedings, (i) to file such proofs
of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee
(including any claim for reasonable compensation to the
Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective
agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all
other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6), and of
the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings
relative to the Company or any other obligor on the
Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or
such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and
regulations and (ii) to vote on behalf of the holders of the
Debentures in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee
in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing
similar functions in comparable proceedings,
26
(c) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims, and
(d) to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and
expenses.
By its acceptance of any Debentures, each Securityholder shall be deemed to have
authorized any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization to
make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall
consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay
to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable
compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective
agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under
Section 6.6.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any
plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Debentures or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to
vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or
under any of the Debentures, may be enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any of the Debentures, or the production thereof at any trial or
other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by
the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust,
and, subject to Section 5.3, any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable
benefit of the holders of the Debentures.
In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings
involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the
Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the
holders of the Debentures, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of
the Debentures parties to any such proceedings.
SECTION 5.3. APPLICATION OF MONEYS COLLECTED BY TRUSTEE. Any moneys
collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V shall be applied in the
following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution
of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debentures in respect of which
moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially
paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
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First: To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable
fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other
amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6;
Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and
to the extent required by Article XV;
Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the
Debentures for principal (and premium, if any), and interest on the Debentures,
in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected,
ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts
due on such Debentures for principal (and premium, if any) and interest
(including Additional Interest), respectively; and
Fourth: The balance, if any, to the Company.
SECTION 5.4. PROCEEDINGS BY SECURITYHOLDERS. No holder of any Debenture
shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy
hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written
notice of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and unless the
holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
then outstanding shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute
such action, suit or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such
reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and
liabilities to be incurred thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its
receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to
institute any such action, suit or proceeding.
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the
right of any holder of any Debenture to receive payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest, on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected
without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is
expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every
Debenture with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or
more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by
virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to affect,
disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Debentures, or to
obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder,
or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein
provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of
Debentures. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this
Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such
relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
SECTION 5.5. PROCEEDINGS BY TRUSTEE. In case of an Event of Default
hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the
rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings
as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such
rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in
bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or
agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right
vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
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SECTION 5.6. REMEDIES CUMULATIVE AND CONTINUING; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT
A WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.6 with respect to the
replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures, all powers and
remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall,
to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any
other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the
Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or
observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or
otherwise established with respect to the Debentures, and no delay or omission
of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debentures to exercise any right,
remedy or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as
aforesaid shall impair any such right, remedy or power, or shall be construed to
be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the
provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by
law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time,
and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with
its duties under Section 6.1) or by the Securityholders.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or any Securityholder to exercise
any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such
right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an
acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to
the Trustee or to any Securityholder may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with its duties
under Section 6.1 hereof) or by such holder, as the case may be.
SECTION 5.7. DIRECTION OF PROCEEDINGS AND WAIVER OF DEFAULTS BY
MAJORITY OF SECURITYHOLDERS. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding
shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or
power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such Debentures; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have
the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine
that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not
taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel
determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken
or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or
proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the
Debentures waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default
or Event of Default, and its consequences, except an Event of Default (a)
specified in Sections 5.1(a) and (b), (b) in respect of covenants or provisions
hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of
each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section
3.9; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a
trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be
effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver,
PROVIDED, FURTHER, that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of
the Trust Securities shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver,
the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this
Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall
be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default
or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default
hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section, said default or
Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and this Indenture be
deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
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SECTION 5.8. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. The Trustee shall, within 90 days
after the actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the
occurrence of a default with respect to the Debentures, mail to all
Securityholders, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the
Debenture Register, notice of all defaults with respect to the Debentures known
to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of
such notice (the term "defaults" for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being
hereby defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and
(f) of Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for
therein); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, except in the case of default in the payment
of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, the
Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding
of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders.
SECTION 5.9. UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS. All parties to this Indenture
agree, and each holder of any Debenture by his acceptance thereof shall be
deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit
for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit
against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing
by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such
suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs,
including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, against any party litigant in
such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or
defenses made by such party litigant; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the provisions of
this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any
suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in
the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debentures outstanding,
or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the
payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture
against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable.
ARTICLE VI.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.1. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE. With respect to
the holders of Debentures issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence
of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and after the curing or
waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the
Debentures, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read
into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with
respect to the Debentures has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a
prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his
own affairs.
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No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to
Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may
have occurred
(1) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to
Debentures shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and
obligations with respect to the Debentures as are specifically
set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the
Trustee, and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee,
the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the
statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed
therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture;
but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by
any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished
to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine
the same to determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in
good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall
be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
and
(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the
Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.7, relating to the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.
None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if there is ground for believing that the repayment of
such funds or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Indenture
or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk is not reasonably
assured to it.
SECTION 6.2. RELIANCE ON DOCUMENTS, OPINIONS, ETC. Except as otherwise
provided in Section 6.1:
(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in
acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note,
debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have
been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
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(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned
herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate (unless other
evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board
Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any
advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder
in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or
direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which may be incurred therein or thereby;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by
it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or
rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein
shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default with respect to the Debentures (that has not been cured or
waived) to exercise with respect to Debentures such of the rights and powers
vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in
their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances
in the conduct of his own affairs;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture,
coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Debentures affected thereby; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the payment
within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities
likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the
opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security
afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so
proceeding;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents (including
any Authenticating Agent) or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible
for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or attorney
appointed by it with due care; and
(h) with the exceptions of defaults under Sections 5.1(a) or 5.1(b),
the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of
Default with respect to the Debentures unless a written notice of such Default
or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any
other obligor on the Debentures or by any holder of the Debentures.
SECTION 6.3. NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECITALS, ETC. The recitals
contained herein and in the Debentures (except in the certificate of
authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the
statements of the Company, and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume
no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and the
Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency
of this Indenture or of the Debentures. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent
shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any
Debentures or the proceeds of any Debentures authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture.
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SECTION 6.4. TRUSTEE, AUTHENTICATING AGENT, PAYING AGENTS, TRANSFER
AGENTS OR REGISTRAR MAY OWN DEBENTURES. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent
or any paying agent or any transfer agent or any Debenture registrar, in its
individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debentures
with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent,
paying agent, transfer agent or Debenture registrar.
SECTION 6.5. MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST. Subject to the provisions of
Section 12.4, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall,
until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for
which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to
the extent required by law. The Trustee and any paying agent shall be under no
liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise
agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be
paid from time to time to the Company upon the written order of the Company,
signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company.
SECTION 6.6. COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF TRUSTEE. The Company
covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee
shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between
the Company and the Trustee (which shall not be limited by any provision of law
in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company
will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with
any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation
and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not
regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may
arise from its negligence or willful misconduct. The Company also covenants to
indemnify the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents,
directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss,
damage, action, suit, claim, liability, cost or expense including taxes (other
than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or
willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the
costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability. The
obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6 to compensate and indemnify
the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and
advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional
indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Debentures upon all
property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held
in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Debentures.
Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under
applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(d), Section 5.1(e)
or Section 5.1(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses
of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute
expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law.
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The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal
of the Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture.
Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debenture to the
contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to
pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the
Debentures or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company.
SECTION 6.7. OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE AS EVIDENCE. Except as otherwise
provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the
provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable
that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action
hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct
on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in
the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee,
shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under
the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
SECTION 6.8. ELIGIBILITY OF TRUSTEE. The Trustee hereunder shall at all
times be a banking corporation or national association organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or
territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers, having (or whose obligations under this
Indenture are guaranteed by an affiliate having) a combined capital and surplus
of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00) and subject to
supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of
Columbia authority. If such corporation or national association publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of
this Section 6.8 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or
national association shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as
set forth in its most recent records of condition so published.
The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as
Trustee.
In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.9.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within
the meaning of ss.310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall
either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner
described by this Indenture.
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SECTION 6.9. RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at
any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and
by mailing notice thereof, at the Company's expense, to the holders of the
Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register.
Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a
successor trustee or trustees by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by
order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered
to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee. If no successor
Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30
days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected
Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder
who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six
months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and
all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a
successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it
may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur --
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of
Section 6.8 after written request therefor by the Company or
by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a
Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with
the provisions of Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after
written request therefor by the Company or by any such
Securityholder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be
adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee
or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer
shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property
or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or
liquidation,
then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and
appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in
duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one
copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so
removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to
the provisions of Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been
a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6
months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly
situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any,
as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and
appoint a successor Trustee.
(c) Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the
time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor
Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within 10
Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case,
or in the case of a failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the
Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and
otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.9 provided, may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor Trustee.
35
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become
effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in
Section 6.10.
SECTION 6.10. ACCEPTANCE BY SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE. Any successor Trustee
appointed as provided in Section 6.9 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to
the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such
appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring
Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further
act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties
and obligations with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder,
with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on
the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee
ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the
provisions of Section 6.6, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to
such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to
act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all
property and money held by such retiring Trustee thereunder. Upon request of any
such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in
writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor
Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall,
nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such
Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section
6.6.
If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee
and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental
hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or
desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Trustee with respect to the Debentures as to which the predecessor
Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee,
and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder
by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such
supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same
trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder
separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other
such Trustee.
No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this
Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be
eligible under the provisions of Section 6.8.
In no event shall a retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or
omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in
this Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such
Trustee hereunder to the holders of Debentures at their addresses as they shall
appear on the Debenture Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice
within 10 Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor
Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the
expense of the Company.
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SECTION 6.11. SUCCESSION BY MERGER, ETC. Any corporation into which the
Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the
Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially
all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of
the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; PROVIDED that such
corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article.
In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the
trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debentures shall have been
authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the
certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such
Debentures so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debentures
shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate
such Debentures either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name
of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the
full force which it is anywhere in the Debentures or in this Indenture provided
that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; PROVIDED, however, that the
right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or
authenticate Debentures in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only
to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
SECTION 6.12. AUTHENTICATING AGENTS. There may be one or more
Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company
with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the
authentication and delivery of the Debentures issued upon exchange or
registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though
any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and
deliver Debentures; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustee shall have no liability
to the Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with
respect to the authentication and delivery of any Debentures. Any such
Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory
thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as
Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000.00 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal,
state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the
requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the
combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its
combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition
so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible
in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of
the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor
of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is
otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of
any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such
Authenticating Agent.
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Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written
notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any
time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the
Debentures by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent
and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a
termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be
eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the
Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under
this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company
and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debentures as the
names and addresses of such holders appear on the Debenture Register. Any
successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with
respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if
originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.
The Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no
responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance
with the directions of the Trustee.
ARTICLE VII.
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 7.1. ACTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS. Whenever in this Indenture it
is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures may take any action (including the making of any demand
or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any
other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of
such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any
instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such
Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by
the record of such holders of Debentures voting in favor thereof at any meeting
of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions
of Article VIV, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and
any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or (d) by any other
method the Trustee deems satisfactory.
If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or
revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debentures for the
determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation
of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record
date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given before or after
the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business
on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of
determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding
Debentures have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation
of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding Debentures shall be computed
as of the record date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such authorization, agreement
or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective
unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture
not later than 6 months after the record date.
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SECTION 7.2. PROOF OF EXECUTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS. Subject to the
provisions of Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5, proof of the execution of any instrument
by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in
accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by
the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The
ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register or by a
certificate of the Debenture registrar. The Trustee may require such additional
proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
The record of any Securityholders meeting shall be proved in the manner
provided in Section 8.6.
SECTION 7.3. WHO ARE DEEMED ABSOLUTE OWNERS. Prior to due presentment
for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any
Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture
registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered
upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of
such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose
of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company
nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any
transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon
his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid,
effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any
such Debenture.
SECTION 7.4. DEBENTURES OWNED BY COMPANY DEEMED NOT OUTSTANDING. In
determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of
Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this
Indenture, Debentures which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the
Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by
or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor
on the Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the
purpose of any such determination; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that for the purposes of
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such
direction, consent or waiver, only Debentures which a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debentures so owned
which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the
purposes of this Section 7.4 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction
of the Trustee the pledgee's right to vote such Debentures and that the pledgee
is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the
Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right,
any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full
protection to the Trustee.
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SECTION 7.5. REVOCATION OF CONSENTS; FUTURE HOLDERS BOUND. At any time prior to
(but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of
the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such
action, any holder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to
Section 7.1) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where a
record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) of a Debenture (or any
Debenture issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the
serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debentures
the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice
with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of
holding as provided in Section 7.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such
Debenture (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any
exchanged or substituted Debenture). Except as aforesaid any such action taken
by the holder of any Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder
and upon all future holders and owners of such Debenture, and of any Debenture
issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer
thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made
upon such Debenture or any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution
therefor.
ARTICLE VIII.
SECURITYHOLDERS MEETINGS
SECTION 8.1. PURPOSES OF MEETINGS. A meeting of Securityholders may be
called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this
Article VIII for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any
directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder
and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by
Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V;
(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to
the provisions of Article VI;
(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental
hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of
the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debentures under
any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
SECTION 8.2. CALL OF MEETINGS BY TRUSTEE. The Trustee may at any time
call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.1,
to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice
of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of
such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such
meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debentures affected at their addresses as
they shall appear on the Debentures Register and, if the Company is not a holder
of Debentures, to the Company. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor
more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
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SECTION 8.3. CALL OF MEETINGS BY COMPANY OR SECURITYHOLDERS. In case at
any time the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least
10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, as the case may be, then
outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of
Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the
action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have
mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request,
then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place
for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in
Section 8.1, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.2.
SECTION 8.4. QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING. To be entitled to vote at any
meeting of Securityholders a Person shall be (a) a holder of one or more
Debentures with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person
appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such
Debentures. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at
any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such
meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel
and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
SECTION 8.5. REGULATIONS. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem
advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding
of Debentures and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the
appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of
proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other
matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.
The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary
chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the
Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.3, in which case the
Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in
like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent
secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of
Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor
shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Debentures
held or represented by him; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no vote shall be cast or
counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged as not outstanding
and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of
the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debentures held
by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the Person
to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly
called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 or 8.3 may be adjourned from
time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a
quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 8.6. VOTING. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any
meeting of holders of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being
held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of
such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or
numbers of the Debentures held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of
the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast
at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with
the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all
votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each
meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and
there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of
votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons
having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting
and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.2. The record
shall show the serial numbers of the Debentures voting in favor of or against
any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the
permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall
be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the
Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
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Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the
matters therein stated.
SECTION 8.7. QUORUM; ACTIONS. The Persons entitled to vote a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall constitute a
quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any action
is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request,
demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be given by
the holders of not less than a specified percentage in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures then outstanding, the Persons holding or representing
such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding
will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the
time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the
request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be
adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent
chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence
of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further
adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent
chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting.
Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in
Section 8.2, except that such notice need be given only once not less than 5
days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened.
Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the
percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding which shall constitute a quorum.
Except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section
9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened
at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
then outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, except as limited by the provisos in
the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any consent,
waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which
this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a
specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened
and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of
the holders of a not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of
the Debentures then outstanding.
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Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of
Debentures duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the
Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.
ARTICLE IX.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.1. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF
SECURITYHOLDERS. The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the
Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or
indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for
one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or
successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the
covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company, pursuant to Article XI
hereof;
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants,
restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of Debentures as
the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of
such Debentures, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance,
of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a
default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the
several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction or
condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of
grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in
the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon
such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such
default;
(c) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental
indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions
arising under this Indenture; PROVIDED that any such action shall not materially
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures;
(d) to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debentures,
including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange,
registration or transfer of Debentures, including to provide for transfer
procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the
Capital Securities as required by Section 2.5 (for purposes of assuring that no
registration of Debentures is required under the Securities Act); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Debentures then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of
this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debentures substantially similar to
those that were applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to
materially adversely affect the holders of the Debentures);
(e) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder
by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debentures and to add to or change
any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;
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(f) to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this
paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in
any material respect; or
(g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and
conditions of the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications
required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the
Debentures, or to add to the rights of the holders of Debentures.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the
execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate
agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the
conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee
shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such
supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section
9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the
holders of any of the Debentures at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of
the provisions of Section 9.2.
SECTION 9.2. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.1) of the holders of not
less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time
outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as a class), the
Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to
time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto
for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or
eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental
indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the
Debentures; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such supplemental indenture shall without
the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected
thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal
amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of
payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof
or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any
coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect
the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair
the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the
aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent
to any such supplemental indenture; PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that if the
Debentures are held by a trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental
indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture;
PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that if the consent of the Securityholder of each
outstanding Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be
effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such
supplemental indenture.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution
authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the
filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as
aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such
supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's
own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which
case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter
into such supplemental indenture.
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Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee
shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the
Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental
indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the
Debenture Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any
defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of
any such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under
this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the
substance thereof.
SECTION 9.3. EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES. Upon the execution of
any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this
Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance
therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties
and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders
of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder
subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms
and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be
part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 9.4. NOTATION ON DEBENTURES. Debentures authenticated and
delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the
provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for
in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so
determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board
of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in
any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company,
authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in
exchange for the Debentures then outstanding.
SECTION 9.5. EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE
FURNISHED TO TRUSTEE. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and
6.2, shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.6, receive an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any
supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements
of this Article IX. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as
conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this
Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this
Article IX to join in the execution thereof.
ARTICLE X.
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 10.1. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. The Company shall have the right to
redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal
amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or
after the Interest Payment Date in March 2010 (an "OPTIONAL REDEMPTION DATE"),
at the Optional Redemption Price.
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SECTION 10.2. SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION. If a Special Event shall occur
and be continuing, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in
whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following
the occurrence of such Special Event (the "SPECIAL REDEMPTION DATE") at the
Special Redemption Price. If the Special Event redemption occurs prior to the
Interest Payment Date in March 2010, the Company shall appoint a Quotation
Agent, which initially shall be JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association or its
designee, for the purpose of performing the services contemplated in, or by
reference in, the definition of Special Redemption Price. Any error in the
calculation of the Special Redemption Price by the Quotation Agent or the
Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered to the Company and the
holders of the Debentures. Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all
certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations
and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the
provisions relating to the payment and calculation of the Special Redemption
Price on the Debentures by the Trustee or the Quotation Agent, as the case may
be, shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) be
final, conclusive and binding on the holders of the Debentures and the Company,
and no liability shall attach (except as provided above) to the Trustee or the
Quotation Agent in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by any of them
of their respective powers, duties and discretion.
SECTION 10.3. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION; SELECTION OF DEBENTURES. In case
the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case
may be, any part of the Debentures, it shall cause to be mailed a notice of such
redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the Optional
Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date to the holders of Debentures so
to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear
on the Debenture Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice
if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have
been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case,
failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of
any Debenture designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect
the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debenture.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any,
of the Debentures to be redeemed, the Optional Redemption Date or the Special
Redemption Date, as applicable, the Optional Redemption Price or the Special
Redemption Price, as applicable, at which Debentures are to be redeemed, the
place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and
surrender of such Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for
redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said
date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to
accrue. If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed the notice of
redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed. In case
the Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall
state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state
that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such
Debenture, a new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
Prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Optional Redemption
Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with
the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to
redeem on the Optional Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as
applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate
Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, together with accrued
interest to the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as
applicable.
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If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the
Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days,
respectively, prior to the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date,
as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed
and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall
deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral
multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.
SECTION 10.4. PAYMENT OF DEBENTURES CALLED FOR REDEMPTION. If notice of
redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.3, the Debentures or
portions of Debentures with respect to which such notice has been given shall
become due and payable on the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption
Date, as applicable, and at the place or places stated in such notice at the
applicable Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, together with
interest accrued to the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as
applicable, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the
payment of such Debentures at the Optional Redemption Price or Special
Redemption Price, as applicable, together with interest accrued to said date)
interest on the Debentures or portions of Debentures so called for redemption
shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debentures at a
place of payment specified in said notice, such Debentures or the specified
portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable
Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, together with interest
accrued thereon to the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as
applicable.
Upon presentation of any Debenture redeemed in part only, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery
to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture or
Debentures of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion of the Debenture so presented.
ARTICLE XI.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
SECTION 11.1. COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS. Nothing
contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation
or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not
affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which
the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall
prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property,
assets or capital stock of the Company or its successor or successors as an
entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not
affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to
acquire and operate the same; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company hereby
covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation, merger (where the
Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other
disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms,
according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of
all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by
the Company, shall be expressly assumed by supplemental indenture satisfactory
in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity
formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged,
or by the entity which shall have acquired such property or capital stock.
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SECTION 11.2. SUCCESSOR ENTITY TO BE SUBSTITUTED. In case of any such
consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon
the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and
punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of
the Debentures and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the
covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the
Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and
thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or
obligation hereunder or upon the Debentures. Such successor entity thereupon may
cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name, any or all of the Debentures
issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company
and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of
such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms,
conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debentures which
previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company,
to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any
Debentures which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and
delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All the
Debentures so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit
under this Indenture as the Debentures theretofore or thereafter issued in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debentures had
been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
SECTION 11.3. OPINION OF COUNSEL TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE. The Trustee,
subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall receive, in addition to
the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.5, an Opinion of Counsel as
conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer
or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of
this Article XI complies with the provisions of this Article XI.
ARTICLE XII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
SECTION 12.1. DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE. When
(a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all
Debentures theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures
which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall
have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) and not
theretofore canceled, or
(b) all the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and
payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable
within 1 year or are to be called for redemption within 1 year
under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving
of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with
the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due
and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption
all of the Debentures (other than any Debentures which shall
have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been
replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) not theretofore
canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or
to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as
the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any
moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any,
or interest on the Debentures (1) theretofore repaid to the
Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.4, or
(2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant
to its unclaimed property or similar laws,
48
and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the
Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums
payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall
cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of
Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9, 12.1 and
12.4 hereof shall survive until such Debentures shall mature
and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 6.6 and 12.4 shall survive,
and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating
that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been
complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company,
shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of
and discharging this Indenture. The Company agrees to
reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter
reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection
with this Indenture or the Debentures.
SECTION 12.2. DEPOSITED MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST BY TRUSTEE. Subject
to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee
pursuant to Section 12.1 shall be held in trust in a non-interest bearing
account and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying
agent (including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders
of the particular Debentures for the payment of which such moneys have been
deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for
principal, and premium, if any, and interest.
SECTION 12.3. PAYING AGENT TO REPAY MONEYS HELD. Upon the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the
Debentures (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid
to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released
from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
SECTION 12.4. RETURN OF UNCLAIMED MONEYS. Any moneys deposited with or
paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of, and
premium, if any, or interest on Debentures and not applied but remaining
unclaimed by the holders of Debentures for 2 years after the date upon which the
principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Debentures, as the case
may be, shall have become due and payable, shall, subject to applicable
escheatment laws, be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent
on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debentures shall thereafter look
only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to
collect, and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to
such moneys shall thereupon cease.
49
ARTICLE XIII.
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 13.1. INDENTURE AND DEBENTURES SOLELY CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS. No
recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on
any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof,
and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the
Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such
Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby,
shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or
director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor
Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor
Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of
law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being
expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and
released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this
Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.
ARTICLE XIV.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 14.1. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and
agreements of the Company in this Indenture shall bind its successors and
assigns whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 14.2. OFFICIAL ACTS BY SUCCESSOR ENTITY. Any act or proceeding
by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or
performed by any board, committee or officer or other authorized Person of the
Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the
like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that
shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
SECTION 14.3. SURRENDER OF COMPANY POWERS. The Company by instrument in
writing executed by authority of at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of
Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved
to the Company and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as
to the Company, and as to any permitted successor.
SECTION 14.4. ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES, ETC. Any notice, consent,
direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand which by any provision of
this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made, furnished or served
by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on or to the Company may be given or
served in writing by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified
mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by
the Company, with the Trustee for the purpose) to the Company, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. Any
notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand by any
Securityholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have
been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing
at the office of the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee, JPMorgan Chase Bank,
National Association, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. Any
notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand on or to
any Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for
all purposes, if given or made in writing at the address set forth in the
Debenture Register.
50
SECTION 14.5. GOVERNING LAW. Pursuant to Section 5-1401 of the General
Obligations Law of the State of New York, this Indenture and each Debenture
shall be deemed to be a contract made under the law of the State of New York,
and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
law of said State.
SECTION 14.6. EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. Upon
any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under
any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the
proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that,
in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied
with.
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and
delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person
making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a
brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation
upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion
are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such
examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not in the opinion of such
person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 14.7. TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC. The table of contents
and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have
been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part
hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions
hereof.
SECTION 14.8. EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Indenture may be executed
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 14.9. SEVERABILITY. In case any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality
or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or
of such Debentures, but this Indenture and such Debentures shall be construed as
if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained
herein or therein.
SECTION 14.10. ASSIGNMENT. The Company will have the right at all times
to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or
indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of
any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations.
Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This
Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto.
51
SECTION 14.11. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RIGHTS. The Company agrees that, with
respect to any Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the
Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights
under this Indenture as the holder of Debentures held as the assets of such
Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities of such Trust have so directed such Institutional Trustee, a holder
of record of such Capital Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such
Institutional Trustee's rights under this Indenture without first instituting
any legal proceedings against such trustee or any other Person. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such
event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium,
if any) or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest (or premium, if
any) or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the
redemption date), the Company agrees that a holder of record of Capital
Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company
for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal
amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of
such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures.
ARTICLE XV.
SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES
SECTION 15.1. AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE. The Company covenants and
agrees, and each holder of Debentures by such Securityholder's acceptance
thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debentures shall be issued
subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Debenture,
whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and
agrees to be bound by such provisions.
The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any,
and interest on all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner
hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the
prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether
outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.
No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any
default or Event of Default hereunder.
SECTION 15.2. DEFAULT ON SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. In the event and during
the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal,
premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the
Company following any grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any
Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default and
such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior
Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall
be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption) of,
or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures.
52
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be
received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding
paragraph of this Section 15.2, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.7, be
held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the
holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the
trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior
Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but
only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their
representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing
within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior
Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall
be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 15.3. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION, BANKRUPTCY. Upon any payment by
the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or
winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or
involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all
amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in
full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms,
before any payment is made by the Company, on account of the principal (and
premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures. Upon any such dissolution or
winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be
entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article
XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy,
liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution,
or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by
them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (PRO RATA to such
holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by
such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued,
as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such
Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money's worth, after giving effect to
any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders
or to the Trustee.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the
Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for
such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution
shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued,
as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for
application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, remaining unpaid to the
extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance
with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to
or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
53
For purposes of this Article XV, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which
is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect
to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, that may at the
time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by
the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or
readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are
not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or
readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the
Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the
Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or
substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and
conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this
Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI
of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.2 or in this Section shall apply to
claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6 of this
Indenture.
SECTION 15.4. SUBROGATION. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of
cash, property or securities of the Company, applicable to such Senior
Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the
Debentures shall be paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no
payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any
cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would
be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over
pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as
between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of
the Company, and the holders of the Debentures be deemed to be a payment or
distribution by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is
understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely
for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the
Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the
other hand.
Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or
in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its
creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the
Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional,
to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable
in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative
rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than
the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent
the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies
otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject
to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received
upon the exercise of any such remedy.
54
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to
in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this
Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon
any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending,
or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee,
agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the
Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons
entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness
and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon,
the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent
thereto or to this Article XV.
SECTION 15.5. TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION. Each Securityholder
by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee
on such Securityholder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or
appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and
appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such
purposes.
SECTION 15.6. NOTICE BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall give prompt
written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office
of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making
of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures
pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not
be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the
making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the
Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall
have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of
Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any
such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of
this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts
exist; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice
provided for in this Section at least 2 Business Days prior to the date upon
which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose
(including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
any) or interest on any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to
receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were
received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be
received by it within 2 Business Days prior to such date.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture,
shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice
by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a
trustee or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such
notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or
representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the
Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect
to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to
participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the
Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by
such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such
payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such
Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the
Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as
to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
55
SECTION 15.7. RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE; HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set
forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held
by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and
nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such
holder. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee
undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations
as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or
obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to
owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject
to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be
liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver
to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any
holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article
XV or otherwise.
Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to,
the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.
SECTION 15.8. SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED. No right of any
present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as
herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any
act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to
act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company,
with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any
knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph,
the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time,
without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without
incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or
releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations
hereunder of the holders of the Debentures to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place
or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such
Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior
Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which
such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or
otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such
Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the
collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from
exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person.
SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE
56
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the
day and year first above written.
TOWER GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇
Title: President and CEO
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
57
FORM OF FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO Tower Group, Inc. (THE "COMPANY"),
(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE
144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS
ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN
INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW
TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF
THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT
PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION
OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.
HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES,
REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH
A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON
OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF
ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH
PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38,
90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF
THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE
CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS
SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS
PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF
THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF
ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH
PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA
OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR
ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
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THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS
HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES
OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A
BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
THIS SECURITY IS IN REGISTERED FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF TREASURY
REGULATIONS SECTION 1.871-14(c)(1)(i) FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND WITHHOLDING
TAX PURPOSES.
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE
REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture
of
Tower Group, Inc.
December 21, 2004
Tower Group, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of Delaware (the "Company," which term includes any successor Person under
the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity but
solely as Institutional Trustee for Tower Group Statutory Trust IV (the
"Holder") or registered assigns, the principal sum of thirteen million four
hundred and three thousand dollars ($13,403,000) on March 15, 2035, and to pay
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interest on said principal sum from December 21, 2004, or from the most recent
Interest Payment Date (as defined herein) to which interest has been paid or
duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in
arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if
such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such
date, an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in
March 2005, at an annual rate equal to 3-Month LIBOR (as defined in the
Indenture plus 3.4% ("Coupon Rate") beginning on (and including) the date of
original issuance applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal
hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any
overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of
such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of
interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each
applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due
until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest
payable will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the
Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. The interest installment so
payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date
will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this
Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall
be fifteen days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date
occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided
for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record
date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special
record date.
Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the
meanings assigned in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of
this Debenture between the Trustee and the Company.
"3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered
interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in
the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per
annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on
Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination
Date ("Telerate Page 3750" means the display designated as "Page 3750" on the
Dow ▇▇▇▇▇ Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that
service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British
Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying
London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate
cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request
the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank
market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per
annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits
having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will
be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such
quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Trustee will
request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations
(expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S.
dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least
two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of
such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as
requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR
determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such
current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a
three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00
a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the
Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such
Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable
page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. As used
herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days
(i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are
transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the
relevant Distribution Period.
A-1-3
"INTEREST RATE" means a per annum rate of interest, reset quarterly,
equal to LIBOR, as determined on the LIBOR Determination Date immediately
preceding each Interest Payment Date, plus 3.40%; provided, however, that the
Interest Rate for any Interest Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate
permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law of
general applicability.
The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher
than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified
by United States law.
All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will
be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage
point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g.,
9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar
amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).
The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the
office or agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company)
maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of
America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that payment of interest may be made by check
mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture
Register if a request for a wire transfer by such holder has not been received
by the Company or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the
holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this
Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and
interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such
place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee.
So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of
Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the
interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time
during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods
(each such extended interest payment period, an "Extension Period"), during
which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due
and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No
Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During
an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and
interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the
Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the
date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period,
A-1-4
to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional
Interest"). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional
Interest thereon); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Extension Period may extend beyond
the Maturity Date; PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that during any such Extension
Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate of the Company
controlled by the Company to engage in any of the activities or transactions
described on the reverse side hereof and in the Indenture. Prior to the
termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period,
provided that such period together with all such previous and further
consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly
periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any
Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and
Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to
the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and
payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each
installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during an
Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent permitted by law.
The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an
Extension Period at least 5 Business Days prior to the regular record date (as
such term is used in Section 2.8 of the Indenture) immediately preceding the
Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would
have been payable except for the election to begin or extend an Extension
Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company's election to begin a new
Extension Period to the holder of the Debentures.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided
in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject
to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this
Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the
subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or
her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the
subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of
Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives
reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.
This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the
certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of
the Trustee.
The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side
hereof and such provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though
fully set forth at this place.
A-1-5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate.
Tower Group, Inc.
By:
------------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:
------------------------------------------------
Authorized Officer
A-1-6
[FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE]
This Debenture is one of the floating rate junior subordinated
deferrable interest debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under
and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of December 21, 2004 (the "Indenture"),
duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which
Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations
of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the
Company and the holders of the Debentures. The Debentures are limited in
aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture.
Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the
Interest Payment Date in March 2010, the Company shall have the right to redeem
the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within
120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special
Redemption Price.
In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures,
in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral
multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest
Payment Date in March 2010, at the Optional Redemption Price.
Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Optional Redemption Date
or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the
Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to
redeem on the Optional Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as
applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate
Optional Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.
If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the
Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days
prior to the Optional Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable,
as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the
Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem
appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples
of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the
Company shall be subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory
approvals.
In case an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon
demand of the Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due
and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions
provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute
supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing
in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any
supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders
of the Debentures; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such supplemental indenture shall
without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and
affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the
principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend
the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on
redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium
thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the
Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute
suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option
of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders
of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.
A-1-7
The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding
on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any
previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its
consequences, except an Event of Default (a) specified in Sections 5.1(a) and
(b), (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each
Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9
of the Indenture; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Debentures are held by the
Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver
shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of
the Trust Securities shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such
waiver, PROVIDED, FURTHER, that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of
the Trust Securities shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver,
the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the
Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall
be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default
or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default
hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said default or
Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the Indenture be
deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture
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, including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place
and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.
The Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the
Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust
Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by
such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of
Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any
obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall
have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such
Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Affiliate of the Company controlled
by the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Company's or such Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of
dividends or distributions to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) or
make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any
A-1-8
payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company
controlled by the Company that rank PARI PASSU in all respects with or junior in
interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y)
above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital
stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with any
employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the
benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company or of such
Subsidiary (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital
stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the
applicable Extension Period, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of
any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a
Subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital
stock (or in the case of a Subsidiary of the Company, any class or series of
such Subsidiary's capital stock) or of any class or series of the Company's
indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or in the
case of indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Company, of any class or series of
such Subsidiary's indebtedness or any class or series of such Subsidiary's
capital stock), (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Company's capital stock (or the capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company)
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock
or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable
upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks PARI PASSU with or junior to
such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in
connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).
The Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form
without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of
$1,000.00 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the
transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein
from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the
Debenture Register of the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of
transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any
office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in
Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or the
Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall
authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or
transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. All
Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment
shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent)
be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized
in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of
transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture,
the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any
transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name
such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may
treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such
Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on
account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and
for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any
Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any
Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such
payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be
valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and
discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.
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The Debentures are in registered form within the meaning of Treasury
Regulations Section 1.871-14(c)(1)(i) for U.S. federal income and withholding
tax purposes.
No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or
interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in
respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or
agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or
in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness
represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder,
employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company
or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the
Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any
constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or
penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is
hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration
for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK, THE INDENTURE AND THIS DEBENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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