EXHIBIT 4.2
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INDEPENDENT BANKSHARES, INC.
AS ISSUER
AND
U.S. TRUST COMPANY OF TEXAS, N.A.
AS TRUSTEE
INDENTURE
_____% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE ____
Dated as of ______________, 1998
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CROSS REFERENCE TABLE
SECTION OF TRUST
INDENTURE ACT OF SECTION OF
1939, AS AMENDED INDENTURE
---------------- ----------
310(a).......................................... 9.10
310(b)..................................... 9.9, 9.11
310(c)............................... Not Applicable
311(a)......................................... 9.14
311(b)......................................... 9.14
311(c)............................... Not Applicable
312(a).................................. 6.1, 6.2(a)
312(b)...................................... 6.2(c)
312(c)...................................... 6.2(c)
313(a)...................................... 6.4(a)
313(b)...................................... 6.4(b)
313(c)............................... 6.4(a), 6.4(b)
313(d)...................................... 6.4(c)
314(a)...................................... 6.3(a)
314(b)............................... Not Applicable
314(c)......................................... 15.7
314(d)............................... Not Applicable
314(e)......................................... 15.7
314(f)............................... Not Applicable
315(a).................................. 9.1(a), 9.3
315(b).......................................... 9.2
315(c)....................................... 9.1(a)
315(d)....................................... 9.1(b)
315(e)......................................... 7.7
316(a)..................................... 1.1, 7.6
316(b)....................................... 7.4(b)
316(c)...................................... 10.1(b)
317(a)......................................... 7.2
317(b)......................................... 5.3
318(a)........................................ 15.9
Note: This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part
of this Indenture and shall not affect the interpretation
of any of its terms or provisions.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions of Terms
ARTICLE II. ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, CONDITIONS,
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF DEBENTURES
Section 2.1 Designation and Principal Amount
Section 2.2 Maturity
Section 2.3 Form and Payment
Section 2.4 [Intentionally Omitted]
Section 2.5 Interest
Section 2.6 Execution and Authentications
Section 2.7 Registration of Transfer and Exchange
Section 2.8 Temporary Debentures
Section 2.9 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures
Section 2.10 Cancellation
Section 2.11 Benefit of Indenture
Section 2.12 Authentication Agent
ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION OF DEBENTURES
Section 3.1 Redemption
Section 3.2 Special Event Redemption
Section 3.3 Optional Redemption by Company
Section 3.4 Notice of Redemption
Section 3.5 Payment Upon Redemption
Section 3.6 No Sinking Fund
ARTICLE IV. EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
Section 4.1 Extension of Interest Payment Period
Section 4.2 Notice of Extension
Section 4.3 Limitation on Transactions
ARTICLE V. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF COMPANY
Section 5.1 Payment of Principal and Interest
Section 5.2 Maintenance of Agency
Section 5.3 Paying Agents
Section 5.4 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee
Section 5.5 Compliance with Consolidation Provisions
Section 5.6 Limitation on Transactions
Section 5.7 Covenants as to the Trust
Section 5.8 Covenants as to Purchases
i.
ARTICLE VI. DEBENTUREHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY
COMPANY AND TRUSTEE
Section 6.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses
of Debentureholders
Section 6.2 Preservation of Information Communications with
Debentureholders
Section 6.3 Reports by Company
Section 6.4 Reports by Trustee
ARTICLE VII. REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND DEBENTUREHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 7.1 Events of Default
Section 7.2 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Trustee
Section 7.3 Application of Moneys Collected
Section 7.4 Limitation on Suits
Section 7.5 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission not Waiver
Section 7.6 Control by Debentureholders
Section 7.7 Undertaking to Pay Costs
ARTICLE VIII. FORM OF DEBENTURE AND ORIGINAL ISSUE
Section 8.1 Form of Debenture
Section 8.2 Original Issue of Debentures
ARTICLE IX. CONCERNING TRUSTEE
Section 9.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee
Section 9.2 Notice of Defaults
Section 9.3 Certain Rights of Trustee
Section 9.4 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, etc.
Section 9.5 May Hold Debentures
Section 9.6 Moneys held in Trust
Section 9.7 Compensation and Reimbursement
Section 9.8 Reliance on Officers' Certificate
Section 9.9 Disqualification: Conflicting Interests
Section 9.10 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility
Section 9.11 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
Section 9.12 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor
Section 9.13 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business
Section 9.14 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company
ARTICLE X. CONCERNING DEBENTUREHOLDERS
Section 10.1 Evidence of Action by Holders
Section 10.2 Proof of Execution by Debentureholders
Section 10.3 Who May be Deemed Owners
ii.
Section 10.4 Certain Debentures Owned by Company Disregarded
Section 10.5 Actions Binding on Future Debentureholders
ARTICLE XI. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 11.1 Supplemental indentures Without the Consent of
Debentureholders
Section 11.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Debentureholders
Section 11.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures
Section 11.4 Debentures Affected by Supplemental Indentures
Section 11.5 Execution of Supplemental Indentures
ARTICLE XII. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
Section 12.1 Company May Consolidate, etc.
Section 12.2 Successor Corporation Substituted
Section 12.3 Evidence of Consolidation, etc. to Trustee
ARTICLE XIII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 13.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
Section 13.2 Discharge of Obligations
Section 13.3 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust
Section 13.4 Payment of Monies Held by Paying Agents
Section 13.5 Repayment to Company
ARTICLE XIV. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 14.1 No Recourse
ARTICLE XV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 15.1 Effect on Successors and Assigns
Section 15.2 Actions by Successor
Section 15.3 Surrender of Company Powers
Section 15.4 Notices
Section 15.5 Governing Law
Section 15.6 Treatment of Debentures as Debt
Section 15.7 Compliance Certificates and Opinions
Section 15.8 Payments on Business Days
Section 15.9 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act
Section 15.10 Counterparts
Section 15.11 Separability
Section 15.12 Assignment
Section 15.13 Acknowledgment of Rights; Right of Setoff
ARTICLE XVI. SUBROGATION OF DEBENTURES
Section 16.1 Agreement to Subordinate
Section 16.2 Default on Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or
iii.
Additional Senior Obligations
Section 16.3 Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy
Section 16.4 Subrogation
Section 16.5 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination
Section 16.6 Notice by Company
Section 16.7 Rights of Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness
Section 16.8 Subordination may not be Impaired
iv.
INDENTURE
INDENTURE, dated as of ______________, 1998, between INDEPENDENT BANKSHARES,
INC., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), and U.S. TRUST COMPANY OF TEXAS,
N.A., a national bank with trust powers, as trustee (the "Trustee");
RECITALS
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized
the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of
securities to be known as its % Subordinated Debentures due 2028 (hereinafter
referred to as the "Debentures"), the form and substance of such Debentures and
the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in this
Indenture;
WHEREAS, Independent Capital Trust, a Delaware statutory business trust (the
"Trust"), has offered to the public $10,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of
its Preferred Securities (as defined herein) (or, $11,500,00 aggregate
liquidation amount of its Preferred Securities if the over-allotment option is
exercised in full) and proposes to invest the proceeds from such offering,
together with the proceeds of the issuance and sale by the Trust to the Company
of $309,280 aggregate liquidation amount of its Common Securities (as defined
herein) (or, $355,670 aggregate liquidation amount of its Common Securities if
the over-allotment option is exercised in full), in $10,309,280 aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures (or, $11,855,670 aggregate principal amount
of the Debentures if the over-allotment option is exercised in full); and
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this
Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all requirements necessary to make this Indenture a valid instrument
in accordance with its terms, and to make the Debentures, when executed by the
Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the valid obligations of
the Company, have been performed, and the execution and delivery of this
Indenture have been duly authorized in all respects; and
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Debentures are to
be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the
execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Debentures by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as
follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS.
The terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as in this Indenture 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 and shall include the plural
as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are
defined in the Trust Indenture Act, or that are by reference in the Trust
Indenture Act defined in the Securities Act (except as herein otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and in the Securities
Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument. All accounting
terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
"Accelerated Maturity Date" means if the Company elects to accelerate the
Maturity Date in accordance with Section 2.2(c), the date selected by the
Company which is prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date, but is after
_____________, 2003.
"Additional Payments" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
"Additional Senior Obligations" means all indebtedness of the Company whether
incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, for
claims in respect of derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange
rate contracts, commodity contracts and similar arrangements; provided, however,
that Additional Senior Obligations does not include claims in respect of Senior
Debt or Subordinated Debt or obligations which, by their terms, are expressly
stated to be not superior in right of payment to the Debentures or to rank pari
passu in right of payment with the Debentures. For purposes of this definition,
"claim" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 101(4) of the United
States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended.
"Administrative Trustees" shall have the meaning set forth in the Trust
Agreement.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) any Person directly
or indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote 10% or more of
the outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests of the specified
Person; (b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities or
other ownership interests are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held
with power to vote by the specified Person; (c) any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the
specified Person; (d) a partnership in which the specified Person is a general
partner; (e) any officer or director of the specified Person; and (f) if the
specified Person is an individual, any entity of which the specified Person is
an officer, director or general partner.
2
"Authenticating Agent" means an authenticating agent with respect to the
Debentures appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.12.
"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 of the Company or any duly
authorized committee of such Board.
"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.
"Business Day" means, with respect to the Debentures, any day other than a
Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which federal or state banking institutions in
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or the City of Dallas, Texas, are
authorized or required by law, executive order or regulation to close, or a day
on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the Property Trustee is
closed for business.
"Capital Treatment Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of
Counsel, rendered by a law firm having a recognized banking law practice, 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 thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
such proposed change, pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the
date of issuance of the Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is
more than an insubstantial risk of impairment of the Company's ability to treat
the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities (or any substantial
portion thereof) as "Tier 1 Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for
purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in
effect and applicable to the Company.
"Certificate" means a certificate signed by the principal executive officer,
the principal financial officer, the principal accounting officer, the treasurer
or any vice president of the Company. The Certificate need not comply with the
provisions of Section 15.7.
"Change in 1940 Act Law" shall have the meaning set forth in the definition
of "Investment Company Event."
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to
time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.
3
"Common Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust which rank pari passu with the Preferred Securities; provided, however,
that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights of holders of Common
Securities to payment in respect of (i) distributions, and (ii) payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise, are subordinated to the rights of holders
of Preferred Securities.
"Company" means Independent Bankshares, Inc., a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Texas, and, subject to the provisions of
Article XII, shall also include its successors and assigns.
"Compounded Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which, at any
particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered,
which office at the date hereof is located at U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A.,
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"Coupon Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
"Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or similar
official under any Bankruptcy Law.
"Debentures" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.
"Debentureholder," "holder of Debentures," "registered holder," or other
similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular
Debenture shall be registered on the books of the Company or the Trustee kept
for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
"Debenture Register" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(b).
"Debenture Registrar" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(b).
"Debt" means with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a
portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent, (i) every
obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property,
assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with
respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding
trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; and (vi) and every
obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of another Person
and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such
Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as
obligor or otherwise.
4
"Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time,
or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
"Deferred Payments" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"Dissolution Event" means that as a result of the occurrence and continuation
of a Special Event, the Trust is to be dissolved in accordance with the Trust
Agreement and the Debentures held by the Property Trustee are to be distributed
to the holders of the Trust Securities issued by the Trust pro rata in
accordance with the Trust Agreement.
"Distribution" shall have the meaning set forth in the Trust Agreement.
"Event of Default" means, with respect to the Debentures, any event specified
in Section 7.1, which has continued for the period of time, if any, and after
the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.
"Exchange Act," means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as in
effect at the date of execution of this instrument.
"Extended Interest Payment Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.1.
"Extended Maturity Date" means if the Company elects to extend the Maturity
Date in accordance with Section 2.2(b), the date selected by the Company which
is after the Scheduled Maturity Date but before ___________, 2037.
"Federal Reserve" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
"Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" means such accounting principles as
are generally accepted at the time of any computation required hereunder.
"Governmental Obligations" means securities that are (i) direct obligations of
the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit
is pledged; or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and
acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the
payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit
obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not
callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also
include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of
the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental
Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such
Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of
such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law)
such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable
to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the
custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of
principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such
depositary receipt.
5
"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.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from
time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental
hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.
"Interest Payment Date," shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of
Counsel, rendered by a law firm having a recognized tax and securities law
practice, to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law
or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law or regulation
by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a
"Change in 1940 Act Law"), the Trust is or shall be considered an "investment
company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act,
which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of original
issuance of the Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement.
"Maturity Date" means the date on which the Debentures mature and on which the
principal shall be due and payable together with all accrued and unpaid interest
thereon including Compounded Interest and Additional Payments, if any.
"Ministerial Action" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the President or a Vice
President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller or an
Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company
that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such
certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.7, if and to
the extent required by the provisions thereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may be
an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in
accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the
statements provided for in Section 15.7, if and to the extent required by the
provisions thereof.
"Outstanding," when used with reference to the Debentures, means, subject to
the provisions of Section 10.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures
theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture,
except (a) Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent,
or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have
previously been canceled; (b) Debentures or portions thereof for the payment or
redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount
shall have
6
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 of such Debentures are to be redeemed prior to the
maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article
III provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for
giving such notice; and (c) Debentures in lieu of or in substitution for which
other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the
terms of Section 2.7.
"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to
Section 5.3.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint-venture, trust,
limited liability company, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Predecessor Debenture" means every previous Debenture evidencing all or a
portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture; and,
for the purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and delivered
under Section 2.9 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be
deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture.
"Preferred 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 of an Event of Default, the rights
of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of (i) distributions, and
(ii) payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, are subordinated to
the rights of holders of Preferred Securities.
"Preferred Securities Guarantee" means any guarantee that the Company may
enter into with the Trustee or other Persons that operates directly or
indirectly for the benefit of holders of Preferred Securities.
"Property Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Trust Agreement.
"Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee means the Chairman
of the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, the
Treasurer, any trust officer, any corporate trust officer or any other officer
or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to
those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers,
respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his
or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Scheduled Maturity Date" means ___________, 2028.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as in effect
at the date of execution of this instrument.
7
"Senior Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if
any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in
bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not such
claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on Debt,
whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant
to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are not
superior in right of payment to the Debentures or to other Debt which is pari
passu with, or subordinated to, the Debentures; provided, however, that Senior
Debt shall not be deemed to include (i) any Debt of the Company which when
incurred and without respect to any election under section 1111(b) of the United
States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, was without recourse to the Company;
(ii) any Debt of the Company to any of its subsidiaries; (iii) Debt to any
employee of the Company; (iv) Debt which by its terms is subordinated to trade
accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business to the extent that payments made to the holders of such Debt by the
holders of the Debentures as a result of the subordination provisions of this
Indenture would be greater than they otherwise would have been as a result of
any obligation of such holders to pay amounts over to the obligees on such trade
accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business as a result of subordination provisions to which such Debt is subject;
and (v) Debt which constitutes Subordinated Debt.
"Senior Indebtedness" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16.1.
"Special Event" means a Tax Event, a Capital Treatment Event or an Investment
Company Event.
"Subordinated Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest,
if any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in
bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not such
claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on Debt (other
than the Debentures), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture
or thereafter incurred, which is by its terms expressly provided to be junior
and subordinate to other Debt of the Company.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a
majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be 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, trust or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding
partnership or similar interests 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.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel, rendered
by a law firm having a recognized tax and securities practice, 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 or judicial decision
8
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date
of issuance of the Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is more
than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or shall be within 90 days
after the date of such Opinion of Counsel, 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
after the date of such Opinion of Counsel, shall not be, deductible by the
Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or
(iii) the Trust is, or shall be within 90 days after the date of such Opinion of
Counsel, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties,
assessments or other governmental charges. The Trust or the Company shall
request and receive such Opinion of Counsel with regard to such matters within a
reasonable period of time after the Trust or the Company shall have become aware
of any of the events described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.
"Trust" means Independent Capital Trust, a Delaware statutory business trust.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated
________, 1998, of the Trust.
"Trustee" means U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A. and, subject to the
provisions of Article IX, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if
at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder,
"Trustee" shall mean each such Person.
"Trust Indenture Act," means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
subject to the provisions of Sections 11.1, 11.2, and 12.1, as in effect at the
date of execution of this instrument.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and Preferred Securities,
collectively.
"Voting Stock," as applied to stock of any Person, 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.
ARTICLE II.
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, CONDITIONS,
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF DEBENTURES
SECTION 2.1. DESIGNATION AND PRINCIPAL AMOUNT.
There is hereby authorized Debentures designated the "____% Subordinated
Debentures due _________, 2028," limited in aggregate principal amount to
$11,855,670, which amount shall be as set forth in any written order of the
Company for the authentication and delivery of Debentures pursuant to Section
2.6.
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SECTION 2.2. MATURITY.
(a) The Maturity Date shall be either:
(i) the Scheduled Maturity Date; or
(ii) if the Company elects to extend the Maturity Date beyond
the Scheduled Maturity Date in accordance with Section
2.2(b), the Extended Maturity Date; or
(iii) if the Company elects to accelerate the Maturity Date to
be a date prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date in
accordance with Section 2.2(c), the Accelerated Maturity
Date.
(b) The Company may at any time before the day which is 90 days
before the Scheduled Maturity Date, elect to extend the Maturity
Date to the Extended Maturity Date, provided that the Company has
received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the
Federal Reserve and further provided that the following
conditions in this Section 2.2(b) are satisfied both at the date
the Company gives notice in accordance with Section 2.2(d) of its
election to extend the Maturity Date and at the Scheduled
Maturity Date:
(i) the Company is not in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or
in liquidation;
(ii) the Company is not in default in the payment of interest
or principal on the Debentures; and
(iii) the Trust is not in arrears on payments of Distributions
on the Trust Securities issued by it and no deferred
Distributions are accumulated.
(c) The Company may at any time before the day which is 90 days
before the Scheduled Maturity Date and after ______, elect to
shorten the Maturity Date only once to the Accelerated Maturity
Date provided that the Company has received the prior approval of
the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.
(d) If the Company elects to extend the Maturity Date in accordance
with Section 2.2(b), the Company shall give notice to the
registered holders of the Debentures, the Property Trustee and
the Trust of the extension of the Maturity Date and the Extended
Maturity Date at least 90 days and no more than 180 days before
the Scheduled Maturity Date.
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(e) If the Company elects to accelerate the Maturity Date in
accordance with Section 2.2(c), the Company shall give notice to
the registered holders of the Debentures, the Property Trustee
and the Trust of the acceleration of the Maturity Date and the
Accelerated Maturity Date at least 90 days and no more than 180
days before the Accelerated Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.3. FORM AND PAYMENT.
The Debentures shall be issued in fully registered certificated form without
interest coupons. Principal and interest on the Debentures issued in
certificated form shall be payable, the transfer of such Debentures shall be
registrable and such Debentures shall be exchangeable for Debentures bearing
identical terms and provisions at the office or agency of the Trustee; provided,
however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by
check mailed to the holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture
Register or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the holder as specified
in the Debenture Register, provided that the holder provides proper transfer
instructions by the regular record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long
as the holder of any Debentures is the Property Trustee, the payment of the
principal of and interest (including Compounded Interest and Additional
Payments, if any) on such Debentures held by the Property Trustee shall be made
at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.
SECTION 2.4. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].
SECTION 2.5. INTEREST.
(a) Each Debenture shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum
(the "Coupon Rate") from the original date of issuance 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) on any
overdue installment of interest at the Coupon Rate, compounded quarterly,
payable (subject to the provisions of Article IV) quarterly in arrears on March
31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each, an "Interest
Payment Date," commencing on December 31, 1998), to the Person in whose name
such Debenture or any Predecessor Debenture is registered, at the close of
business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall
be the fifteenth day of the last month of the calendar quarter.
(b) The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest
payable for any period shorter than a full quarterly period for which interest
is computed shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which
interest is payable on the Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of
interest payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding day which is
a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was
originally payable.
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(c) If, at any time while the Property Trustee is the holder of any
Debentures, the Trust or the Property Trustee is required to pay any taxes,
duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than
withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing authority,
then, in any case, the Company shall pay as additional interest (the "Additional
Payments") on the Debentures held by the Property Trustee, such additional
amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by
the Trust and the Property Trustee after paying such taxes, duties, assessments
or other governmental charges shall be equal to the amounts the Trust and the
Property Trustee would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or
other government charges been imposed.
SECTION 2.6. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATIONS.
(a) The Debentures shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its
Chief Executive Officer, President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its
corporate seal attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries.
Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature. The Company
may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a Chief
Executive Officer, President or Vice President thereof, or of any Person who
shall have been a Secretary or Assistant Secretary thereof, notwithstanding the
fact that at the time the Debentures shall be authenticated and delivered or
disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be the Chief Executive Officer,
President or a Vice President, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company. The seal of the Company may be in the form of a facsimile of such seal
and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the
Debentures. The Debentures may contain such notations, legends or endorsements
required by law, agreements to which the Company is a party, stock exchange rule
or usage. Each Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication by the
Trustee. The Debentures shall be issued in minimum denominations of $10 and
integral multiples thereof.
(b) A Debenture shall not be valid until manually authenticated by an
authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such
signature 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. The form of the Trustee's certificate of
authentication to be borne by the Debentures shall be substantially as set forth
in Exhibit A hereto.
---------
(c) At any time and from time to time after the execution and
delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Debentures executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the
Company for the authentication and delivery of such Debentures signed by its
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or any Vice
President and its Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, in a maximum aggregate
amount outstanding at any one time of $11,855,670, and the Trustee in accordance
with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Debentures.
(d) 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 9.1) shall be
fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating
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that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture.
(e) The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Debentures
if the issue of such Debentures pursuant to this Indenture shall affect the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Debentures and this
Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee.
SECTION 2.7. REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
(a) The Debentures may not be transferred except in compliance with
any applicable law, regulation or legend thereon. Debentures may be exchanged
upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for
such purpose, or at the office of the Debenture Registrar, for other Debentures
and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided
in this Section 2.7. In respect of any Debentures so surrendered for exchange,
the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or
agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Debenture or Debentures that the
Debentureholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing
numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or
agency designated for such purpose, or at the office of the Debenture Registrar,
or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein
referred to as the "Debenture Register") in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Debentures and
the transfers of Debentures as in this Article II provided and which at all
reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for
the purpose of registering Debentures and transfer of Debentures as herein
provided shall initially be the Trustee and thereafter as may be appointed by
the Company as authorized by Board Resolution (the "Debenture Registrar"). Upon
surrender for transfer of any Debenture at the office or agency of the Company
designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall
authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the
transferee or transferees a new Debenture or Debentures for a like aggregate
principal amount. All Debentures presented or surrendered for exchange or
registration of transfer, as provided in this Section 2.7, shall be accompanied
(if so required by the Company or the Debenture Registrar) by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or
the Debenture Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such
holder's duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration
of transfer of Debentures, or issue of new Debentures in case of partial
redemption, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges
pursuant to Section 2.8, Section 3.5(b) and Section 11.4 not involving any
transfer.
(d) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or
register the transfer of any Debentures during a period beginning at the opening
of business 15 days before the day of
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the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding
Debentures and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; nor
(ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debentures or portions thereof
called for redemption.
(e) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of
any Debenture pursuant to this Section 2.7, the Company, the Trustee and any
agent of the Company or the Trustee may deem and treat the Person in whose name
any Debenture is registered as the absolute owner of such Debenture for the
purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest
on such Debentures and all other purposes, and neither the Company or the
Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice
to the contrary.
SECTION 2.8. TEMPORARY DEBENTURES.
Pending the preparation of definitive Debentures, the Company may execute, and
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Debentures (printed,
lithographed or typewritten). Such temporary Debentures shall be 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 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 like
effect, as the definitive Debentures. Without unnecessary delay the Company
shall execute and shall furnish definitive Debentures (printed, lithographed or
typewritten, or provided by any combination thereof, or in any other manner
permitted by the rules and regulations of any applicable securities exchange)
and thereupon any or all temporary Debentures may be surrendered in exchange
therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company
designated for the purpose, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office
or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Debentures an equal
aggregate principal amount of definitive Debentures, unless the Company advises
the Trustee to the effect that definitive Debentures need not be executed and
furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the
temporary Debentures shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture
as definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.
SECTION 2.9. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN DEBENTURES.
(a) In case any temporary or definitive Debenture shall become
mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next
succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company's request the Trustee
(subject as aforesaid) 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 the applicant's Debenture and of the ownership thereof. The
Trustee shall authenticate
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any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the written request or
authorization of the Chairman, President or any Vice-President and the Treasurer
or any Assistant Treasurer 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 (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected
therewith. In case any Debenture that has matured or is about to mature shall
become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of
issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or aut horize 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 they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of
destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the
Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership
thereof.
(b) Every replacement Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 2.9 shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the
Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall
be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, 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 the foregoing provisions are exclusive with
respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Debentures, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) 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 2.10. CANCELLATION.
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 delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the
Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debentures shall be issued in lieu
thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of
this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the
Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Debentures held by the Trustee.
In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Debentures in
accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition
to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise 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
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.11. BENEFIT OF INDENTURE.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debentures, express or implied, shall give
or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the
holders of the Debentures (and, with respect to the provisions of Article XVI,
the holders of Senior Indebtedness) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or
provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being
for
15
the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Debentures
(and, with respect to the provisions of Article XVI, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness).
SECTION 2.12. AUTHENTICATION AGENT.
(a) So long as any of the Debentures remain Outstanding there may be
an Authenticating Agent for any or all such Debentures, which the Trustee shall
have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act
on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Debentures issued upon exchange,
transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Debentures so authenticated shall be
entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for
all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in
this Indenture to the authentication of Debentures by the Trustee shall be
deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating
Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a
combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it,
sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in
which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise
authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these
provisions, it shall resign immediately.
(b) 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 (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any
Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such
Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or
cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an
eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor
Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if
originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
ARTICLE III.
REDEMPTION OF DEBENTURES
SECTION 3.1. REDEMPTION.
Subject to the Company having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve,
if then required under the applicable capital guidelines or policies of the
Federal Reserve, the Company may redeem the Debentures issued hereunder on and
after the dates set forth in and in accordance with the terms of this Article
III.
SECTION 3.2. SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION.
Subject to the Company having received the prior approval of the Federal
Reserve, if then required under the applicable capital guidelines or policies of
the Federal Reserve, if a Special
16
Event has occurred and is continuing, then, notwithstanding Section 3.3, the
Company shall have the right upon not less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days'
notice to the holders of the Debentures to redeem the Debentures, in whole but
not in part, for cash within 180 days following the occurrence of such Special
Event (the "180-Day Period") at a redemption price equal to 100% of the
principal amount to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon to
the date of such redemption (the "Redemption Price"), provided that if at the
time there is available to the Company the opportunity to eliminate, within the
180-Day Period, a Tax Event by taking some ministerial action (a "Ministerial
Action"), such as filing a form or making an election, or pursuing some other
similar reasonable measure which has no adverse effect on the Company, the Trust
or the holders of the Trust Securities issued by the Trust, the Company shall
pursue such Ministerial Action in lieu of redemption, and, provided further,
that the Company shall have no right to redeem the Debentures while it is
pursuing any Ministerial Action pursuant to its obligations hereunder, and,
provided further, that, if it is determined that the taking of a Ministerial
Action would not eliminate the Tax Event within the 180-Day Period, the
Company's right to redeem the Debentures shall be restored and it shall have no
further obligations to pursue the Ministerial Action. The Redemption Price shall
be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York time, on the date of such redemption or
such earlier time as the Company determines, provided that the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the Redemption Price by
10:00 a.m., New York time, on the date such Redemption Price is to be paid.
SECTION 3.3. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION BY COMPANY.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3(b), except as otherwise
may be specified in this Indenture, the Company shall have the right to redeem
the Debentures, in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after ______, at a
Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any
accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of such redemption, plus
Deferred Payments, if any. Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.3(a) shall
be made upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days notice to the holder of
the Debentures, at the Redemption Price. If the Debentures are only partially
redeemed pursuant to this Section 3.3, the Debentures shall be redeemed pro rata
or by lot or in such other manner as the Trustee shall deem appropriate and fair
in its discretion. The Redemption Price shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New
York time, on the date of such redemption or at such earlier time as the Company
determines provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount
sufficient to pay the Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the date
such Redemption Price is to be paid.
(b) If a partial redemption of the Debentures would result in the
delisting of the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust from The Nasdaq Stock
Market's National Market or any comparable level or successor listing or any
national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred
Securities are then listed or quoted, the Company shall not be permitted to
effect such partial redemption and may only redeem the Debentures in whole.
17
SECTION 3.4. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.
(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem
all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Debentures in accordance with the
right reserved so to do, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to upon
receipt of 45 days' written notice from the Company (which notice shall, in the
event of a partial redemption, include a representation to the effect that such
partial redemption shall not result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities
as described in Section 3.3(b) above), give notice of such redemption to holders
of the Debentures to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a
notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before
the date fixed for redemption to such holders at their last addresses as they
shall appear upon the Debenture Register. Any notice that is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given,
whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure
duly to give such notice to the holder of any Debenture designated for
redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect
the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debentures. In
the case of any redemption of Debentures prior to the expiration of any
restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Debentures or
elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an
Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction. Each such
notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the
Redemption Price and shall state that payment of the Redemption Price shall be
made at the Corporate Trust Office, upon presentation and surrender of such
Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption shall be paid
as specified in said notice and that from and after said date interest shall
cease to accrue. If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed, the notice
to the holders of the Debentures shall specify the particular Debentures to be
redeemed. If the Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice shall
state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state
that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Debenture, a new
Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
thereof shall be issued.
(b) If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company
shall give the Trustee at least 45 days' notice in advance of the date fixed for
redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed,
and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it
shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion, the portion or portions
(equal to the minimum authorized denomination of the Debentures or any integral
multiple thereof) of the Debentures to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly
notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed,
in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect pursuant
to the terms hereof, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by its
President or any Vice President, instruct the Trustee or any Paying Agent to
call all or any part of the Debentures for redemption and to give notice of
redemption in the manner set forth in this Section 3.4, such notice to be in the
name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem
advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the
Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the
case may be, such Debenture Register, transfer books or other records, or
suitable copies or extracts
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therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such Paying Agent to give any
notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section 3.4.
SECTION 3.5. PAYMENT UPON REDEMPTION.
(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed
as above provided, the Debentures or portions of Debentures to be redeemed
specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the
place stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, and interest on
such Debentures or portions of Debentures shall cease to accrue on and after the
date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of
such Redemption Price with respect to any such Debenture or portion thereof. On
presentation and surrender of such Debentures on or after the date fixed for
redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Debentures
shall be paid and redeemed at the Redemption Price (but if the date fixed for
redemption is an interest payment date, the interest installment payable on such
date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the
applicable record date pursuant to Section 3.3).
(b) Upon presentation of any Debenture that is to be redeemed in part
only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the
office or agency where the Debenture is presented shall deliver to the holder
thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture of authorized
denomination in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the
Debenture so presented.
SECTION 3.6. NO SINKING FUND.
The Debentures are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
ARTICLE IV.
EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
SECTION 4.1. EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD.
So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company
shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of the
Debentures, to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment
period of such Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters
(the "Extended Interest Payment Period"), during which Extended Interest Payment
Period no interest shall be due and payable; provided that no Extended Interest
Payment Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, interest, the payment of which has been deferred because of the
extension of the interest payment period pursuant to this Section 4.1, shall
bear interest thereon at the Coupon Rate compounded quarterly for each quarter
of the Extended Interest Payment Period (the "Compounded Interest"). At the end
of the Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company shall calculate (and
deliver such calculation to the Trustee) and pay all interest accrued and unpaid
on the Debentures, including any Additional Payments and Compounded Interest
19
(together, the "Deferred Payments") that shall be payable to the holders of the
Debentures in whose names the Debentures are registered in the Debenture
Register on the first record date after the end of the Extended Interest Payment
Period. Before the termination of any Extended Interest Payment Period, the
Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with
all such further extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters, or
extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Debentures. Upon the termination of any
Extended Interest Payment Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Payments
then due, the Company may commence a new Extended Interest Payment Period,
subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest shall be due and payable
during an Extended Interest Payment Period, except at the end thereof, but the
Company may prepay at any time all or any portion of the interest accrued during
an Extended Interest Payment Period.
SECTION 4.2. NOTICE OF EXTENSION.
(a) If the Property Trustee is the only registered holder of the
Debentures at the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period,
the Company shall give written notice to the Administrative Trustees, the
Property Trustee and the Trustee of its selection of such Extended Interest
Payment Period two Business Days before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding
date on which Distributions on the Trust Securities issued by the Trust are
payable; or (ii) the date the Trust is required to give notice of the record
date, or the date such Distributions are payable, to The Nasdaq Stock Market's
National Market or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders
of the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust, but in any event at least one
Business Day before such record date.
(b) If the Property Trustee is not the only holder of the Debentures
at the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company
shall give the holders of the Debentures and the Trustee written notice of its
selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period at least two Business Days
before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date; or (ii) the
date the Company is required to give notice of the record or payment date of
such interest payment to The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market or other
applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of the Debentures.
(c) The quarter in which any notice is given pursuant to paragraphs
(a) or (b) of this Section 4.2 shall be counted as one of the 20 quarters
permitted in the maximum Extended Interest Payment Period permitted under
Section 4.1.
SECTION 4.3. LIMITATION ON TRANSACTIONS.
If (i) the Company shall exercise its right to defer payment of interest as
provided in Section 4.1; or (ii) there shall have occurred any Event of Default,
then (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or distributions on,
or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
of its capital stock (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock
of the Company, or any declaration of a non-cash dividend in connection with the
implementation of a shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under
any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights
pursuant thereto,
20
and (ii) purchases of common stock of the Company related to the rights under
any of the Company's benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees);
(b) the Company shall not make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if
any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Company
which rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Debentures; provided,
however, that notwithstanding the foregoing the Company may make payments
pursuant to its obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee; and (c)
the Company shall not redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the
outstanding Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities.
ARTICLE V.
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF COMPANY
SECTION 5.1. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.
The Company shall duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of
and interest on the Debentures at the time and place and in the manner provided
herein. Each such payment of the principal of or interest on the Debentures
shall relate only to the Debentures, shall not be combined with any other
payment of the principal of or interest on any other obligation of the Company,
and shall be clearly and unmistakably identified as pertaining to the
Debentures.
SECTION 5.2. MAINTENANCE OF AGENCY.
So long as any of the Debentures remain Outstanding, the Company shall
maintain an office or agency at such location or locations as may be designated
as provided in this Section 5.2, where (i) Debentures may be presented for
payment; (ii) Debentures may be presented as hereinabove authorized for
registration of transfer and exchange; and (iii) notices and demands to or upon
the Company in respect of the Debentures and this Indenture may be given or
served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until
the Company shall, by written notice signed by its President or a Vice President
and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such
purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any
such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the
address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served
at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints
the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and demands.
The Company shall give the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation
or rescission thereof.
SECTION 5.3. PAYING AGENTS.
(a) The Trustee shall initially act as the Paying Agent. If the
Company shall appoint one or more Paying Agents for the Debentures, other than
the Trustee, the Company shall cause each such Paying Agent to execute and
deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the
Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 5.3:
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(i) that it shall hold all sums held by it as such agent for
the payment of the principal of or interest on the Debentures (whether such
sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such
Debentures) in tr ust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(ii) that it shall give the Trustee notice of any failure by
the Company (or by any other obligor of such Debentures) to make any
payment of the principal of or interest on the Debentures when the same
shall be due and payable;
(iii) that it shall, at any time during the continuance of any
failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(ii) above, upon the
written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so
held in trust by such Paying Agent; and
(iv) that it shall perform all other duties of Paying Agent as
set forth in this Indenture.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent with respect to
the Debentures, it shall on or before each due date of the principal of or
interest on such Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal
or interest so becoming due on Debentures until such sums shall be paid to such
Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and shall promptly notify
the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such
Debentures) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more
Paying Agents for the Debentures, it shall, prior to each due date of the
principal of or interest on any Debentures, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum
sufficient to pay the principal or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held
in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal or interest,
and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify
the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.3 to the contrary, (i)
the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 5.3 is subject
to the provisions of Section 13.3 and 13.4; and (ii) the Company may at any
time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any Paying Agent to pay, to
the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such
sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon
which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such
payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released
from all further liability with respect to such money.
SECTION 5.4. APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of
Trustee, shall appoint, in the manner provided in Section 9.11, a Trustee, so
that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
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SECTION 5.5. COMPLIANCE WITH CONSOLIDATION PROVISIONS.
The Company shall 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 company unless the provisions of
Article XII hereof are complied with.
SECTION 5.6. LIMITATION ON TRANSACTIONS.
If Debentures are issued to the Trust or a trustee of the Trust in connection
with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust and (i) there shall have
occurred any event of which the Company has knowledge and has not taken
reasonable steps to cure that would constitute an Event of Default; (ii) the
Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under
the Preferred Securities Guarantee relating to the Trust; or (iii) the Company
shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on such
Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided in this
Indenture and such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then
(a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
its capital stock (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of
the Company, or any declaration of a non-cash dividend in connection with the
implementation of a shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under
any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights
pursuant thereto, and (ii) purchases of common stock of the Company related to
the rights under any of the Company's benefit plans for its directors, officers
or employees); (b) the Company shall not make any payment of principal, interest
or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued
by the Company which rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the
Debentures; provided, however, that the Company may make payments pursuant to
its obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee; and (c) the Company
shall not redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the outstanding
Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 5.7. COVENANTS AS TO THE TRUST.
For so long as the Trust Securities of the Trust remain outstanding, the
Company shall (i) maintain 100% direct or indirect ownership of the Common
Securities of the Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the
Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of the
Common Securities; (ii) not voluntarily terminate, wind up or liquidate the
Trust, except upon prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then so required
under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve; and
(iii) use its reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a business
trust, except in connection with a distribution of Debentures, the redemption of
all of the Trust Securities of the Trust, or certain mergers, consolidations or
amalgamations, each as permitted by the Trust Agreement; and (b) to otherwise
continue not to be treated as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable
as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes;
and (iii) use its reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Trust Securities to
be treated as owning an individual beneficial interest in the Debentures. In
connection with the distribution of the Debentures to the holders of the
Preferred Securities issued by the Trust upon a Dissolution Event, the Company
shall use its best
23
efforts to list such Debentures on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market or
on such other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed.
SECTION 5.8. COVENANTS AS TO PURCHASES.
Except upon the exercise by the Company of its right to redeem the Debentures
pursuant to Section 3.2 upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event,
the Company shall not purchase any Debentures, in whole or in part, from the
Trust prior to ___________________.
ARTICLE VI.
DEBENTUREHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS
BY COMPANY AND TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.1. COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF
DEBENTUREHOLDERS.
The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) on a
quarterly basis on each regular record date (as described in Section 2.5) a
list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the holders of the Debentures as of such regular record date,
provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish
such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the
most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company (in the event the
Company fails to provide such list on a quarterly basis, the Trustee shall be
entitled to rely on the most recent list provided by the Company); 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;
provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished if the
Trustee shall be the Debenture Registrar.
SECTION 6.2. PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS WITH DEBENTUREHOLDERS.
(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 contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in
Section 6.1 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Debentures received
by the Trustee in its capacity as Debenture Registrar for the Debentures (if
acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 6.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) Debentureholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act with other Debentureholders with respect to their rights
under this Indenture or under the Debentures.
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SECTION 6.3. REPORTS BY COMPANY.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee, within
15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission,
copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports
(or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from
time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be
required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information,
documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the
Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations
prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and
periodic information, documents and reports that may be required pursuant to
Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on
a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such
rules and regulations.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the
Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to
time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with
respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided
for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and
regulations.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, or reputable over-night delivery service that provides for
evidence of receipt, to the Debentureholders, as their names and addresses
appear upon the Debenture Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with
the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required
to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section
6.3 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by
the Commission.
SECTION 6.4. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.
(a) On or before July 15 in each year in which any of the Debentures
are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Debentureholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the
Debenture Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 15, if and to
the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such
transmission to Debentureholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with
each stock exchange upon which any Debentures are listed (if so listed) and also
with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any
Debentures become listed on any stock exchange.
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ARTICLE VII.
REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND DEBENTUREHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 7.1. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
(a) Whenever used herein with respect to the Debentures, "Event of
Default" means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is
continuing:
(i) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of
interest upon any of the Debentures, as and when the same shall become due
and payable, and continuance of 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;
(ii) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal on
the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at
maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise; provided, however,
that a valid extension of the maturity of such Debentures in accordance
with the terms of this Indenture shall not constitute a default in the
payment of principal;
(iii) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its
covenants or agreements with respect to the Debentures for a period of 90
days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the
same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default"
hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by
registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Debentures at the time
Outstanding;
(iv) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any
Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case; (ii) consents to the entry
of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case; (iii) consents to
the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its
property; or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors;
(v) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under
any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an
involuntary case; (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or
substantially all of its property; or (iii) orders the liquidation of the
Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90
days; or
(vi) the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily
dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence
except in connection with (i) the distribution of Debentures to holders of
Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust; (ii) the
redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities of the Trust; or
26
(iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted
by the Trust Agreement.
(b) In each and every such case referred to in items (i) through (vi)
of Section 7.1(a), unless the principal of all 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 such
Debentureholders) may declare the principal of all the Debentures to be due and
payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and
shall be immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything contained in this
Indenture or in the Debentures.
(c) 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,
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then
Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has
paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of any and
all Debentures that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with
interest upon such principal, and upon overdue installments of interest, at the
rate per annum expressed in the Debentures to the date of such payment or
deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7; and (ii) any
and all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of
principal on Debentures that shall not have become due by their terms, shall
have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 7.6. No such rescission and
annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right
with respect to Debentures 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 and the Trustee shall be restored
respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights,
remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no
such proceedings had been taken.
SECTION 7.2. COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.
(a) The Company covenants that (1) in case it shall default in the
payment of any installment of interest on any of the Debentures, and such
default shall have continued for a period of 30 days; or (2) in case it shall
default in the payment of the principal of any of the Debentures when the same
shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Debentures or
upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, then, upon demand of the
Trustee, the Company shall pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of
the Debentures, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and
payable on all such Debentures for principal or interest, or both, as the case
may be, with interest upon the overdue principal to the extent that the payment
of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and (if the
27
Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, without duplication
of any other amounts paid by the Trust or trustee in respect thereof) upon
overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the
Debentures; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient
to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the
Trustee under Section 9.7, other than through its negligence or bad faith.
(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts set forth in
Section 7.2(a) forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as
trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any
action 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
other obligor upon the Debentures and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to
be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or
other obligor upon the Debentures, wherever situated.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings
affecting the Company or the creditors or property thereof, the Trustee shall
have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may
be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law)
be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may
be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the
holders of the Debentures allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the
Company under this Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and
for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after
such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of
the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7; and any receiver, assignee
or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the
holders of the Debentures to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the
event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to
such Debentureholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section
9.7.
(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this
Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Debentures, may
be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such 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 any recovery of judgment shall,
after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 9.7,
be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures. 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 at law or in equity or 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. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any
28
Debentureholder 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 Debentureholder in
any such proceeding.
SECTION 7.3. APPLICATION OF MONEYS COLLECTED.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VII with respect
to the Debentures shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates
fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account
of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Debentures, and notation
thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if
fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all
amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7;
SECOND: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness if and to the extent
required by Article XVI; and
THIRD: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the
Debentures for principal and interest, in respect of which or for the
benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference
or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such
Debentures for principal and interest, respectively; and
FOURTH: To the Company.
SECTION 7.4. LIMITATION ON SUITS.
(a) Except as provided in section 15.13 hereof, no holder of any
Debenture shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this
Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon
or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver
or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously
shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the
continuance thereof with respect to the Debentures specifying such Event of
Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then Outstanding shall have made
written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in
its own name as trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have
offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the
costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; and (iv) 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;
and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Debentures do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the
request; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the
holder of every Debenture with every other holder and the Trustee, that no one
or more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatever by
virtue of or by availing of any provision of this
29
Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other holder of
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.
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any
other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of the Debentures to
receive payment of the principal of and interest on the Debentures, as therein
provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debenture (or
in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption
date, 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 of any
provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the
holders of any other of such 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 7.4, each and every Debentureholder and the
Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in
equity.
SECTION 7.5. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.
(a) All powers and remedies given by this Article VII to the Trustee
or to the Debentureholders 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 such
Debentures.
(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of
the Debentures to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default
occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right 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 7.4, every power and remedy
given by this Article VII or by law to the Trustee or the Debentureholders may
be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by
the Trustee or by the Debentureholders.
SECTION 7.6. CONTROL BY DEBENTUREHOLDERS.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at
the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 10.4, 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; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict
with any rule of law or with this Indenture. Subject to the provisions of
Section 9.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such
direction if the Trustee
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in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee,
determine that the proceeding 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 affected thereby, determined in accordance
with Section 10.4, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive
any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein and
its consequences, except (i) a default in the payment of the principal of or
interest on any of the Debentures as and when the same shall become due by the
terms of such Debentures otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has
been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and
principal has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section
7.1(c)); (ii) a default in the covenants contained in Section 5.6; or (iii) in
respect of a covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the holder of each Outstanding Debenture affected;
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 preference of Trust Securities of
the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver;
provided further, that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of
the Trust, and 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 of the Trust 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 impair any
right consequent thereon.
SECTION 7.7. UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Debentures by such
holder's 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,
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; but the
provisions of this Section 7.7 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the
Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Debentureholder, or group of
Debentureholders holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debentures, or to any suit instituted by any Debentureholder for the
enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on the Debentures, on
or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debenture or established
pursuant to this Indenture.
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ARTICLE VIII.
FORM OF DEBENTURE AND ORIGINAL ISSUE
SECTION 8.1. FORM OF DEBENTURE.
The Debenture and the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication to be endorsed
thereon are to be substantially in the forms contained as Exhibit A attached
hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 8.2. ORIGINAL ISSUE OF DEBENTURES.
Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $______ may, upon execution of
this Indenture, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for
authentication. In such event, the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and
deliver said Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by
its Chairman, its Vice Chairman, its President, or any Vice President and its
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, without any further action by the Company.
ARTICLE IX.
CONCERNING TRUSTEE
SECTION 9.1. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and
after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall
undertake to perform with respect to the Debentures 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 has occurred that 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.
(b) 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:
(1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with
respect to the Debentures be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with
respect to the Debentures except for the performance of such duties
and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
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Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into
this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Debentures 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 that
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;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in
good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee,
unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining
the pertinent facts;
(3) 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 holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Debentures at the time Outstanding 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 with respect to the Debentures; and
(4) 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 reasonable ground for
believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably
assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity
against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 9.2. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.
Within 90 days after actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee
of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Debentures, the
Trustee shall transmit by mail to all holders of the Debentures, as their names
and addresses appear in the Debenture Register, notice of such default, unless
such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in
the case of a default in the payment of the principal or interest (including any
Additional Payments) on any Debenture, the Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive
committee or a trust committee of the directors and/or Responsible Officers of
the Trustee determines in good faith that the withholding of such notice is in
the interests of the holders of such Debentures; and provided, further, that in
the case of any default of the character specified in section 7.1(a)(iii), no
such notice to holders of Debentures need be sent until at least 30 days after
the occurrence thereof. For the purposes of this Section 9.2, the term
"default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both,
would become, an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures.
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SECTION 9.3. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.1:
(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or
other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned
herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument
signed in the name of the Company by the President or any Vice President and by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer thereof (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically
prescribed herein);
(c) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of a default or
an Event of Default, other than an Event of Default specified in Section
7.1(a)(i) or (ii), unless and until it receives written notification of such
Event of Default from the Company or by holders of at least 25% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures at the time Outstanding;
(d) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of
such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization
and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder
in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) 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 Debentureholders, pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture, unless such Debentureholders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall,
however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to the
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 liable for any action taken or omitted
to be taken 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;
provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall relieve the Trustee of
the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (that has not been
cured or waived), to exercise 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 person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs;
(g) 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,
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consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents, unless
requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Debentures (determined as provided in
Section 10.4); 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 costs,
expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding, and the reasonable
expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by
the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand; and
(h) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder.
SECTION 9.4. TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS, ETC.
(a) The Recitals contained herein and in the Debentures shall be
taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no
responsibility for the correctness of the same.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debentures.
(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application
by the Company of any of the Debentures or of the proceeds of such Debentures,
or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in
accordance with any provision of this Indenture, or for the use or application
of any moneys received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.
SECTION 9.5. MAY HOLD DEBENTURES.
The Trustee or any Paying Agent or Debenture Registrar for the Debentures, 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, Paying
Agent or Debenture Registrar.
SECTION 9.6. MONEYS HELD IN TRUST.
Subject to the provisions of Section 13.5, all moneys received by the Trustee
shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the
purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other
funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no
liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it
may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
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SECTION 9.7. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an
express trust), as the Company and the Trustee may from time to time agree in
writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby
created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties
hereunder of the Trustee, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
the Company shall 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 bad faith. The Company also
covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and
employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense
incurred without negligence or bad faith 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 in the premises.
(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section 9.7 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.
SECTION 9.8. RELIANCE ON OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.1, 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 suffering or
omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in
respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
negligence or bad faith 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 bad faith on the part of the
Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or
omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith
thereof.
SECTION 9.9. DISQUALIFICATION: CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the
meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the
Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 9.10. CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.
There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Debentures issued
hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation 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, or a corporation or other Person permitted to
act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000, and 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 to the requirements
of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of
this Section 9.10, 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. 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 9.10, the Trustee
shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section
9.11.
SECTION 9.11. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.
(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time
resign by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting
notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Debentureholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture
Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly
appoint a successor trustee with respect to Debentures by written instrument, in
duplicate, executed by order of the 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 60 days after the mailing of such notice of
resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to
Debentures, or any Debentureholder who has been a bona fide holder of a
Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, subject to the provisions
of Section 9.10, 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 one of the following shall occur
(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of
Section 9.9 after written request therefor by the Company or by any
Debentureholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or
Debentures for at least six months; or
(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with
the provisions of Section 9.10 and shall fail to resign after written
request therefor by the Company or by any such Debentureholder; or
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(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be
adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy
proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be
appointed or consented to, 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 with respect to all
Debentures 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 9.10, unless the Trustee's duty to
resign is stayed as provided herein, any Debentureholder who has been a bona
fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, on behalf
of that holder 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) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee by so
notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee with
the consent of the Company; provided, however, that if no successor Trustee
shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted appointment within 30 days
after such notice of removal, the Trustee so removed or any Debentureholder,
upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section
9.11 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor trustee.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor trustee with respect to the Debentures pursuant to any of the
provisions of this Section 9.11 shall become effective upon acceptance of
appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 9.12.
SECTION 9.12. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with
respect to the Debentures, every successor trustee so appointed shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument
accepting such appointment, 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, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the
Company or the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of
its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor
trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall
duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and
money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
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(b) Upon request of any successor trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in
Section 9.12(a).
(c) No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the
time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible
under this Article IX.
(d) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided
in this Section 9.12, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of
such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Debentureholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture
Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after
acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall
cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 9.13. MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.
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 the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be
the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be
qualified under the provisions of Section 9.9 and eligible under the provisions
of Section 9.10, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding. In case any Debentures shall have been authenticated, but not
delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or
consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and
deliver the Debentures so authenticated with the same effect as if such
successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Debentures. If at such 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 that the Debentures or this Indenture
elsewhere provides 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 9.14. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act,
excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to
Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
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ARTICLE X.
CONCERNING DEBENTUREHOLDERS
SECTION 10.1. EVIDENCE OF ACTION BY HOLDERS.
(a) Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a
majority or 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 majority or
specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or
any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of
Debentures in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
(b) If the Company shall solicit from the Debentureholders any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate, fix in advance a record date for the determination of
Debentureholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, 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 may be given
before or after the record date, but only the Debentureholders of record at the
close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Debentureholders for
the purposes of determining whether Debentureholders 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, 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 Debentureholders on the record date shall be deemed effective
unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture
not later than six months after the record date.
SECTION 10.2. PROOF OF EXECUTION BY DEBENTUREHOLDERS.
Subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, proof of the execution of any
instrument by a Debentureholder (such proof shall not require notarization) or
his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the
Debentures shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any
instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(b) The ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture
Register of such Debentures or by a certificate of the Debenture Registrar
thereof.
(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter
referred to in this Section 10.2 as it shall deem necessary.
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SECTION 10.3. WHO MAY BE DEEMED OWNERS.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture,
the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent and any
Debenture Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Debenture
shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such
Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue and notwithstanding
any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the
Debenture Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of
the principal of and interest on such Debenture (subject to Section 2.3) and for
all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent
nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Debenture Registrar shall be affected by
any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder 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 10.4. CERTAIN DEBENTURES OWNED BY COMPANY DISREGARDED.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount
of Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this
Indenture, the Debentures that 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 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, except that (i) for the purpose of determining
whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent
or waiver, only Debentures that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be
so disregarded; and (ii) for purposes of this Section 10.4, the Trust shall be
deemed not to be controlled by the Company. The Debentures so owned that have
been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of
this Section 10.4, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the
Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Debentures and that
the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by
or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other
obligor. In 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.
SECTION 10.5. ACTIONS BINDING ON FUTURE DEBENTUREHOLDERS.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as
provided in Section 10.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the
majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures specified
in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Debenture that
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,
and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 10.2, revoke such action so far
as concerns such 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 therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place
thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made
upon such Debenture. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or
percentage in aggregate
41
principal amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection
with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and
the holders of all the Debentures.
ARTICLE XI.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 11.1. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF DEBENTUREHOLDERS.
In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this
Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time
enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform
to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the
consent of the Debentureholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein or in the
Debentures;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Debentures in addition to or in
place of certificated Debentures;
(c) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
holders of all or any of the Debentures or to surrender any right or power
herein conferred upon the Company;
(d) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of
any Debentureholder in any material respect;
(e) to qualify or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act; or
(i) to evidence a consolidation or merger involving the Company as
permitted under Section 12.1.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of
any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements
and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be
obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 11.1 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 11.2.
SECTION 11.2. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF DEBENTUREHOLDERS.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 10.1) of the holders of not
less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time
Outstanding, the Company,
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when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee may from time to time and
at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which
shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect)
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 not covered by Section 11.1 the rights
of the holders of the Debentures under this Indenture; provided, however, that
no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each
Debenture then Outstanding and affected thereby, (i) extend the fixed maturity
of any Debentures, reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest thereon; or (ii) reduce the aforesaid
percentage of Debentures, the holders of which are required to consent to any
such supplemental indenture; provided further, that if the Debentures are held
by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be
effective until the holders of a majority in liquidation preference of Trust
Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such supplemental indenture;
provided further, that if the consent of the holder of each Outstanding
Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until
each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such
supplemental indenture. It shall not be necessary for the consent of the
Debentureholders affected thereby under this Section 11.2 to approve the
particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be
sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 11.3. EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of
this Article XI, 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 11.4. DEBENTURES AFFECTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Debentures affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered
after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of
this Article XI, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided
such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which the Debentures may
be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the
Company 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 by the
Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the
Debentures then Outstanding.
SECTION 11.5. EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
(a) Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board
Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and
upon the filing with the
43
Trustee of evidence of the consent of Debentureholders required to consent
thereto 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. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of
Sections 9.1, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any
supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article XI is authorized or
permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article XI and that it is
proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article XI to join in the
execution thereof.
(b) Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of
any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.5, the
Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting
forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the
Debentureholders 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.
ARTICLE XII.
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
SECTION 12.1. COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC.
Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Debentures shall prevent
any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or
corporations (whether or not affiliated with the Company, as the case may be),
or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company, as the case may
be, or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent
any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the
Company, as the case may be, or its successor or successors as an entirety, or
substantially as an entirety, to any other corporation (whether or not
affiliated with the Company, as the case may be, or its successor or successors)
authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that the Company
hereby covenants and agrees that, (i) upon any such consolidation, merger, sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment, in the
case of the Company, of the principal of and interest on all of the Debentures,
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 as the case may be, shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental
indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as
then in effect) satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to
the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the
Company, as the case may be, shall have been merged, or by the entity which
shall have acquired such property; (ii) in case the Company consolidates with
or merges into another Person or conveys or transfers its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, the successor Person is organized
under the laws of the United States or any state or the District of Columbia;
and (iii) immediately after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default, and no
event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of
Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.
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SECTION 12.2. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED.
(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor
corporation, 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 interest on all of the Debentures Outstanding and the due and
punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to
be performed by the Company, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named as the
Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of
all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Debentures.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in
substance) may be made in the Debentures thereafter to be issued as may be
appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Debentures
shall prevent the Company from merging into itself or acquiring by purchase or
otherwise all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not
affiliated with the Company).
SECTION 12.3. EVIDENCE OF CONSOLIDATION, ETC. TO TRUSTEE.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, may receive an Opinion
of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with
the provisions of this Article XII.
ARTICLE XIII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 13.1. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.
If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation all Debentures theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures
that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced
or paid as provided in Section 2.9) and Debentures for whose payment money or
Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated
and held in trust by the Company (and thereupon repaid to the Company or
discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 13.5); or (b) all such
Debentures not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have
become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within
one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the
Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds
the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations sufficient, or a
combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a recognized firm of
independent public accountants
45
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at
maturity or upon redemption all Debentures not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation, including principal and interest due or to become due
to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and
if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company; then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of
further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.7, 2.9, 5.1, 5.2,
5.3 and 9.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date,
as the case may be, and Sections 9.6 and 13.5, that shall survive to such date
and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and
expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging
satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture.
SECTION 13.2. DISCHARGE OF OBLIGATIONS.
If at any time all Debentures not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section
13.1 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the
Trustee as trust funds moneys or an amount of Governmental Obligations
sufficient in the opinion of a recognized certified public accounting firm to
pay at maturity or upon redemption all Debentures not theretofore delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and interest due or to become
due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be,
and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company, then after the date such moneys or Governmental
Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee, the obligations
of the Company under this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except
for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.7, 2.9, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 9.6, 9.10 and 13.5
hereof that shall survive until such Debentures shall mature and be paid.
Thereafter, Sections 9.6 and 13.5 shall survive.
SECTION 13.3. DEPOSITED MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.
All monies or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to
Sections 13.1 or 13.2 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment
as due, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company
acting as its own Paying Agent), to the holders of the Debentures for the
payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been
deposited with the Trustee.
SECTION 13.4. PAYMENT OF MONIES HELD BY PAYING AGENTS.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all
moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any Paying Agent under the
provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the
Trustee and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further
liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
46
SECTION 13.5. REPAYMENT TO COMPANY.
Any monies or Governmental Obligations deposited with any Paying Agent or the
Trustee, or then held by the Company in trust, for payment of principal of or
interest on the Debentures that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the
holders of such Debentures for at least two years after the date upon which the
principal of or interest on such Debentures shall have respectively become due
and payable, shall be repaid to the Company, as the case may be, on May 31 of
each year or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust;
and thereupon the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be released from all
further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and
the holder of any of the Debentures entitled to receive such payment shall
thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the
payment thereof.
ARTICLE XIV.
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 14.1. NO RECOURSE.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this
Indenture, or of the Debentures, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in
respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or
director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor
or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such
predecessor or successor corporation, 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 this Indenture and the obligations
issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal
liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the
incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or
of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the
creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of
the Debentures or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal
liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by
constitution or statute, and any and all such rights and claims against, every
such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the
creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of
the Debentures or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as
a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and
the issuance of such Debentures.
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ARTICLE XV.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 15.1. EFFECT ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture
contained by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns,
whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 15.2. ACTIONS BY SUCCESSOR.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or
required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the
Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the
corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the
time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.
SECTION 15.3. SURRENDER OF COMPANY POWERS.
The Company by instrument in writing executed by appropriate authority 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, as the case may be, and as to any successor corporation.
SECTION 15.4. NOTICES.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein any notice or demand that by any
provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by
the Trustee or by the holders of Debentures to or on the Company may be given or
served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox
addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the
Trustee), as follows: Independent Bankshares, Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Chief Financial Officer. Any notice, election,
request or demand by the Company or any Debentureholder 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 Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
SECTION 15.5. GOVERNING LAW.
This Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the internal laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of said State.
SECTION 15.6. TREATMENT OF DEBENTURES AS DEBT.
It is intended that the Debentures shall be treated as indebtedness and not as
equity for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall
be interpreted to further this intention.
SECTION 15.7. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.
(a) 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
48
Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent 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, except that in the case of any such
application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is
specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such
particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be
furnished.
(b) Each certificate or opinion of the Company provided for in this
Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant 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, in the opinion of such
Person, 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 15.8. PAYMENTS ON BUSINESS DAYS.
In any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any
Debenture or the date of redemption of any Debenture shall not be a Business
Day, then payment of interest or principal may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of
maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such
nominal date.
SECTION 15.9. CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or
conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the
Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 15.10. 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 15.11. SEPARABILITY.
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 the Debentures,
but this Indenture and the Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
49
SECTION 15.12. ASSIGNMENT.
The Company shall have the right at all times to assign any of its respective
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 shall remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the
foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the
parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may
not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.
SECTION 15.13. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RIGHTS; RIGHT OF SETOFF.
(a) The Company acknowledges that, with respect to any Debentures
held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, if the Property Trustee fails to
enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of the Debentures held as
the assets of the Trust, any holder of Preferred Securities may institute legal
proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Property Trustee's
rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings
against such Property Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.4(a) hereof, 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 principal on the Debentures on
the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of
redemption, on the redemption date), the Company acknowledges that a holder of
Preferred Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of
payment to such holder of the principal of or interest on the Debentures having
a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the
Debentures.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Indenture, the Company shall have the right of setoff any payment it is
otherwise required to make hereunder in respect of any Trust Securities to the
extent that the Company has previously made, or is concurrently making, a
payment to the holder of such Trust Securities under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee or in connection with a proceeding for enforcement of payment of the
principal of or interest on the Debentures directly brought by holders of any
Trust Securities.
(c) For so long as any of the Preferred Securities remain
Outstanding, if, upon an Event of Default, the Property Trustee fails or the
Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures
fail to declare the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and
payable, the Holders of at least 25% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities then Outstanding shall have the right to declare the principal of all
of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable by a notice in writing to
the Depositor and the Property Trustee; and upon any such declaration such
principal amount of and the accrued interest on all of the Debentures shall
become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and
interest on such Debentures shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in
this Indenture.
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ARTICLE XVI.
SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES
SECTION 16.1. AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE.
The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debentures issued
hereunder by such holder's acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees,
that all Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article
XVI; 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 interest on all
Debentures issued hereunder 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 Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations
of the Company (collectively, "Senior Indebtedness") to the extent provided
herein, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred. No provision of this Article XVI shall prevent the occurrence of any
default or Event of Default hereunder.
SECTION 16.2. DEFAULT ON SENIOR DEBT, SUBORDINATED DEBT OR ADDITIONAL SENIOR
OBLIGATIONS.
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, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has
been accelerated because of a default, then, in either case, no payment shall be
made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption
payments) of or interest on the Debentures. In the event that, notwithstanding
the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is
prohibited by the preceding sentence of this Section 16.2, such payment shall 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 16.3. LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY.
(a) 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
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 or interest on the Debentures; and 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 holders of the Debentures or the Trustee
would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this
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Article XVI, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in ban
kruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or
distribution, or by the holders of the Debentures 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 holders of Debentures or to the Trustee.
(b) 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, as the case may be,
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.
(c) For purposes of this Article XVI, 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 XVI with respect
to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be,
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 XII shall not be deemed a
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this
Section 16.3 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article
XII. Nothing in Section 16.2 or in this Section 16.3 shall apply to claims of,
or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 9.7.
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SECTION 16.4. SUBROGATION.
(a) Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the
rights of the holders of the Debentures 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, as the case may be, applicable to
such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and interest on the Debentures
shall be paid in full; and, 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 holders of the Debentures or the Trustee would be
entitled except for the provisions of this Article XVI, and no payment over
pursuant to the provisions of this Article XVI to or for the benefit of the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness by holders of the Debentures 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 by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is
understood that the provisions of this Article XVI are and are intended solely
for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the
Debentures, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness on the
other hand.
(b) Nothing contained in this Article XVI 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
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, as the
case may be, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, as the case may be,
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 XVI of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash,
property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, received upon the
exercise of any such remedy.
(c) Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company
referred to in this Article XVI, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of
Article IX, and the holders of the Debentures 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 holders of the Debentures, for the purposes
of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the
holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, as the
case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid
or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article
XVI.
SECTION 16.5. TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION.
Each holder of Debentures by such holder's acceptance thereof authorizes and
directs the Trustee on such holder's behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to
53
effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XVI and appoints the
Trustee such holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
SECTION 16.6. NOTICE BY COMPANY.
(a) The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible
Officer 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 XVI. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Article XVI 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 XVI, unless
and until a Responsible Officer 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 Section 9.1, 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 16.6 at
least two 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 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 two Business Days prior to such date.
(b) The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, 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
on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a
holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee 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 XVI, 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 XVI, 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.
SECTION 16.7. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE; HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS.
(a) The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all
the rights set forth in this Article XVI 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. The Trustee's right to compensation and reimbursement
of expenses as set forth in Section 9.7 shall not be subject to the
subordination provisions of this Article XVI.
54
(b) 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 XVI, 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 Section 9.1, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder
of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to holders of
Debentures, 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 XVI or
otherwise.
SECTION 16.8. SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED.
(a) 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.
(b) Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 16.8(a),
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 holders of the
Debentures, without incurring responsibility to the holders of the Debentures
and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article
XVI 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly
executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
INDEPENDENT BANKSHARES, INC.
----------------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------
------------------------------
------------------------------
-----------------
55
Attest:
--------------------------------
Name:
---------------------------
_______________ hereby accepts the trust in this Indenture declared and
provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth.
U.S. TRUST COMPANY OF TEXAS, N.A., as trustee
---------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------------------
Attest:
------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------
STATE OF )
------------------
)ss:
COUNTY OF )
-----------------
On this _______ day of _______________________________, , before me appeared
, to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did say that he is the
________________________________ of ______________________________, and that the
seal affixed to said instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation, and
that said instrument was signed and sealed in behalf of said corporation by
authority of its board of directors and said __________________, acknowledged
said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal
at my office in said county and state the day and year last above written.
--------------------------
Notary Public
[seal] My term expires:
----------
STATE OF )
------------------
)ss:
COUNTY OF )
-----------------
56
On this _______ day of _______________________________, ____, before me
appeared ______________________________, to me personally known, who, being by
me duly sworn, did say that he is the ____________________________ of
____________________________________, and that the seal affixed to said
instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument
was signed and sealed in behalf of said corporation by authority of its board of
directors and said ______________________________, acknowledged said instrument
to be the free act and deed of said corporation.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal
at my office in said county and state the day and year last above written.
--------------------------
Notary Public
[seal] My term expires:
----------
57
