Exhibit 4L
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GPU, INC.
TO
UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
Trustee
---------
Indenture
(For Unsecured Debt Securities)
Dated as of December 1, 2000
------------------------------------------
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PARTIES 1
RECITAL OF THE COMPANY 1
ARTICLE One
Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application
section 101. Definitions. 1
Act 2
Affiliate 3
Authenticating Agent 3
Authorized Officer 3
Board of Directors 3
Board Resolution 3
Business Day 3
Commission 3
Company 3
Company Request or Company Order 4
Corporate Trust Office 4
Corporation 4
Defaulted Interest 4
Discount Security 4
Dollar or $ 4
Eligible Obligations 4
Event of Default 4
Governmental Authority 4
Government Obligations 5
Holder 5
Indenture 5
Interest Payment Date 5
Maturity 5
Officer's Certificate 6
Opinion of Counsel 6
Outstanding 6
Paying Agent 7
Periodic Offering 7
Person 7
Place of Payment 8
Predecessor Security 8
Redemption Date 8
Redemption Price 8
Regular Record Date 8
Required Currency 8
Responsible Officer 8
Securities 8
Security Register and Security Registrar 9
Special Record Date 9
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Stated Interest Rate 9
Stated Maturity 9
Subsidiary 9
Tranche 9
Trust Indenture Act 9
Trustee 9
United States 10
section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. 11
section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. 12
section 104. Acts of Holders. 14
section 105. Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company. 15
section 106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver. 15
section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. 16
section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. 16
section 109. Successors and Assigns. 16
section 110. Separability Clause. 16
section 111. Benefits of Indenture. 16
section 112. Governing Law. 16
section 113. Legal Holidays. 16
ARTICLE Two
Security Forms
section 201. Forms Generally. 18
section 202. Form of Trustee's Certificate
of Authentication. 18
ARTICLE Three
The Securities
section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. 19
section 302. Denominations. 24
section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery
and Dating. 24
section 304. Temporary Securities. 27
section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer
and Exchange. 28
section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and
Stolen Securities. 30
section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
Preserved. 31
section 308. Persons Deemed Owners. 32
section 309. Cancellation by Security Registrar. 33
section 310. Computation of Interest. 33
section 311. Payment to Be in Proper Currency. 33
section 312. Extension of Interest Payment. 34
iii
ARTICLE Four
Redemption of Securities
section 401. Applicability of Article. 34
section 402. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. 34
section 403. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed. 35
section 404. Notice of Redemption. 35
section 405. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. 37
section 406. Securities Redeemed in Part. 37
ARTICLE Five
Sinking Funds
section 501. Applicability of Article. 38
section 502. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund
Payments with Securities. 38
section 503. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. 39
ARTICLE Six
Covenants
section 601. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. 40
section 602. Maintenance of Office or Agency. 40
section 603. Money for Securities Payments
to Be Held in Trust. 41
section 604. Corporate Existence. 43
section 605. Maintenance of Properties. 43
section 606. Annual Officer's Certificate
as to Compliance. 43
section 607. Waiver of Certain Covenants. 43
section 608. Limitation on Liens. 44
ARTICLE Seven
Satisfaction and Discharge
section 701. Satisfaction and Discharge of Securities. 48
section 702. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. 51
section 703. Application of Trust Money. 52
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ARTICLE Eight
Events of Default; Remedies
section 801. Events of Default. 53
section 802. Acceleration of Maturity;
Rescission and Annulment. 55
section 803. Collection of Indebtedness and
Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. 56
section 804. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. 57
section 805. Trustee May Enforce Claims
Without Possession of Securities. 58
section 806. Application of Money Collected. 58
section 807. Limitation on Suits. 59
section 808. Unconditional Right of Holders
to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. 60
section 809. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. 60
section 810. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. 60
section 811. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. 60
section 812. Control by Holders of Securities. 61
section 813. Waiver of Past Defaults. 61
section 814. Undertaking for Costs. 62
section 815. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. 62
ARTICLE Nine
The Trustee
section 901. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. 63
section 902. Notice of Defaults. 64
section 903. Certain Rights of Trustee. 64
section 904. Not Responsible for Recitals
or Issuance of Securities. 66
section 905. May Hold Securities. 66
section 906. Money Held in Trust. 66
section 907. Compensation and Reimbursement. 66
section 908. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. 67
section 909. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. 68
section 910. Resignation and Removal;
Appointment of Successor. 68
section 911. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. 71
section 912. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation
or Succession to Business. 72
section 913. Preferential Collection of
Claims Against Company. 73
section 914. Co-trustees and Separate Trustees. 73
section 915. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. 75
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ARTICLE Ten
Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company
section 1001. Lists of Holders. 77
section 1002. Reports by Trustee and Company. 78
ARTICLE Eleven
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer
section 1101. Company May Consolidate, etc.,
Only on Certain Terms. 78
section 1102. Successor Person Substituted. 79
ARTICLE Twelve
Supplemental Indentures
section 1201. Supplemental Indentures Without
Consent of Holders. 79
section 1202. Supplemental Indentures With
Consent of Holders. 82
section 1203. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. 84
section 1204. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. 84
section 1205. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act. 84
section 1206. Reference in Securities to
Supplemental Indentures. 84
section 1207. Modification Without Supplemental
Indenture . 85
ARTICLE Thirteen
Meetings of Holders; Action Without Meeting
section 1301. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called. 85
section 1302. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings. 85
section 1303. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings. 86
section 1304. Quorum; Action. 87
section 1305. Attendance at Meetings;
Determination of Voting Rights; 88
section 1306. Counting Votes and Recording
Action of Meetings. 89
section 1307. Action Without Meeting. 90
ARTICLE Fourteen
Immunity of Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors
section 1401. Liability Solely Corporate. 90
GPU, INC.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939
and Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2000
Trust Indenture Act Section Indenture Section
Section 310 (a)(1) 909
(a)(2) 909
(a)(3) 914
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(b) 908
910
Section 311 (a) 913
(b) 913
(c) 913
Section 312 (a) 1001
(b) 1001
(c) 1001
Section 313 (a) 1002
(b) 1002
(c) 1002
Section 314 (a) 1002
(a)(4) 606
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) 102
(c)(2) 102
(c)(3) Not Applicable
(d) Not Applicable
(e) 102
Section 315 (a) 901
903
(b) 902
(c) 901
(d) 901
(e) 814
Section 316 (a) 812
813
(a)(1)(A) 802
812
(a)(1)(B) 813
(a)(2) Not Applicable
(b) 808
Section 317 (a)(1) 803
(a)(2) 804
(b) 603
Section 318 (a) 107
INDENTURE, dated as of December 1, 2000 between GPU, INC., a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at 300
Madison Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey, 07962, and UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY
OF NEW YORK, a New York a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws
of the State of New York, having its principal corporate trust office at 114
West 47th Street, New York, New York 10036, as Trustee (herein called the
"Trustee").
RECITAL OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the
"Securities"), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued in one or
more series as contemplated herein; and all acts necessary to make this
Indenture a valid agreement of the Company have been performed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used herein
shall have the meanings assigned to them in Article One of this Indenture.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by
the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and
proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof,
as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application
SECTION 101. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
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(b) all terms used herein without definition which are defined in
the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the
meanings assigned to them therein;
(c) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States, and, except as otherwise herein expressly
provided, the term "generally accepted accounting principles" with respect
to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such
accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at
the date of such computation or, at the election of the Company from time
to time, at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture;
provided, however, that in determining generally accepted accounting
principles applicable to the Company, the Company shall, to the extent
required, conform to any order, rule or regulation of any administrative
agency, regulatory authority or other governmental body having
jurisdiction over the Company; and
(d) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
Certain terms, used principally in Article Nine, are defined in that
Article.
"Act", when used with respect to any Holder of a Security, has the
meaning specified in Section 104.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or through one or
more intermediaries, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
3
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person (other than the Company or
an Affiliate of the Company) authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 915
to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate one or more series of Securities
or Tranche thereof.
"Authorized Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the President,
any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, or any other officer
or agent of the Company duly authorized by the Board of Directors to act in
respect of matters relating to this Indenture.
"Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the
Company or any committee thereof duly authorized to act in respect of matters
relating to this Indenture.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day", when used with respect to a Place of Payment or any
other particular location specified in the Securities or this Indenture, means
any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a day on which banking
institutions or trust companies in such Place of Payment or other location are
generally authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain
closed, except as may be otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or, if at any time after the date of execution and delivery of this
Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned
to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body, if any, performing such
duties at such time.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first
paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Company" shall mean such successor Person.
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"Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or
order signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer and delivered
to the Trustee.
"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 of execution and delivery of this
instrument is located at 114 West 47th Street, New York, New York 10036.
"Corporation" means a corporation, association, company, limited
liability company, partnership, joint stock company or business trust.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.
"Discount Security" means any Security which provides for an amount
less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration
of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 802. "Interest" with
respect to a Discount Security means interest, if any, borne by such Security at
a Stated Interest Rate.
"Dollar" or "$" means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin
or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the
payment of public and private debts.
"Eligible Obligations" means:
(a) with respect to Securities denominated in Dollars, Government
Obligations; or
(b) with respect to Securities denominated in a currency other than
Dollars or in a composite currency, such other obligations or instruments
as shall be specified with respect to such Securities, as contemplated by
Section 301.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 801.
"Governmental Authority" means the government of the United States
or of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or of any
county, municipality or other political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or
any
5
department, agency, authority or other instrumentality of any of the foregoing.
"Government Obligations" means:
(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and
interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States and
entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof; and
(b) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which
evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in clause
(a) above or in any specific interest or principal payments due in respect
thereof; provided, however, that the custodian of such obligations or
specific interest or principal payments shall be a bank or trust company
(which may include the Trustee or any Paying Agent) subject to Federal or
state supervision or examination with a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50,000,000; and provided, further, that except as may be otherwise
required by law, such custodian shall be obligated to pay to the holders
of such certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments the full
amount received by such custodian in respect of such obligations or
specific payments and shall not be permitted to make any deduction
therefrom.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in
the Security Register.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and
delivered and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or
more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable
provisions hereof and shall include the terms of a particular series of
Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.
"Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to any Security,
means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
"Maturity", when used with respect to any Security, means the date
on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes
due and payable as provided in such Security or in this Indenture, whether at
the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, upon call for redemption or
otherwise.
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"Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by an Authorized
Officer and delivered to the Trustee.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for the Company, or other counsel acceptable to the Trustee.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Securities, means, as of
the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture, except:
(a) Securities theretofore canceled or delivered to the Security
Registrar for cancellation;
(b) Securities deemed to have been paid in accordance with
Section 701; and
(c) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in
exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated
and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities
in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof
satisfactory to it and the Company that such Securities are held by a bona
fide purchaser or purchasers in whose hands such Securities are valid
obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether or not the Holders of the
requisite principal amount of the Securities Outstanding under this Indenture,
or the Outstanding Securities of any series or Tranche, have given any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or whether
or not a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities,
(x) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon
the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other
obligor (unless the Company, such Affiliate or such obligor owns all
Securities Outstanding under this Indenture, or (except for the
purposes of actions to be taken by Holders of (i) more than one
series voting as a class under Section 812 or (ii) more than one
series or more than one Tranche, as the case may be, voting as a
class under Section 1202) all Outstanding Securities of each such
series and each such Tranche, as the case may be, determined without
7
regard to this clause (x)) shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall
be protected in relying upon any such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or upon any such
determination as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities which
the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded; provided,
however, that Securities so owned which have been pledged in good
faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to
the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with
respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company
or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the
Company or of such other obligor; and
(y) the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be
deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of
the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date
of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the
Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 802;
provided, further, that, in the case of any Security the principal of which is
payable from time to time without presentment or surrender, the principal amount
of such Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding at any time for all
purposes of this Indenture shall be the original principal amount thereof less
the aggregate amount of principal thereof theretofore paid.
"Paying Agent" means any Person, including the Company, authorized
by the Company to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest, if
any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company.
"Periodic Offering" means an offering of Securities of a series from
time to time any or all of the specific terms of which Securities, including
without limitation the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the Stated
Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with
respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the
issuance of such Securities.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, joint venture, trust or
unincorporated organization or any Governmental Authority.
8
"Place of Payment", when used with respect to the Securities of any
series, or any Tranche thereof, means the place or places, specified as
contemplated by Section 301, at which, subject to Section 602, principal of and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of such series or
Tranche are payable.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every
previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced
by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any
Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in
lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed (to the
extent lawful) to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Security.
"Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest
Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that
purpose as contemplated by Section 301.
"Required Currency" has the meaning specified in Section 311.
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, means
any Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Trust Officer or other officer of
the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to the Corporate Trust Administration
Division of the Trustee (or any successor division or department of the
Trustee).
"Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this
Indenture and more particularly means any securities authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture.
9
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 305.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on
the Securities of any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to
Section 307.
"Stated Interest Rate" means a rate (whether fixed or variable) at
which an obligation by its terms is stated to bear simple interest. Any
calculation or other determination to be made under this Indenture by reference
to the Stated Interest Rate on a Security shall be made without regard to the
effective interest cost to the Company of such Security and without regard to
the Stated Interest Rate on, or the effective cost to the Company of, any other
indebtedness in respect of which the Company's obligations are evidenced or
secured in whole or in part by such Security.
"Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any obligation or any
installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date on which
the principal of such obligation or such installment of principal or interest is
stated to be due and payable (without regard to any provisions for redemption,
prepayment, acceleration, purchase or extension).
"Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding
voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one
or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other
Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock
that ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all
times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by
reason of any contingency.
"Tranche" means a group of Securities which (a) are of the same
series and (b) have identical terms except as to principal amount and/or date of
issuance.
"Trust Indenture Act" means, as of any time, the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, or any successor statute, as in effect at such time.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such
with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this
10
Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean or include each Person who is
then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person,
"Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the
Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
"United States" means the United States of America, its Territories,
its possessions and other areas subject to its political jurisdiction.
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, upon any
application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under
any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall, if requested by the Trustee,
furnish to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate stating that all conditions
precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action (including any covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition
precedent) have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the
opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been
complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to
which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision
of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no
additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(a) a statement that each Person signing such certificate or opinion
has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating
thereto;
(b) 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;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such Person, such
Person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to
enable such Person to express an informed opinion as to whether or not
such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
11
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such Person,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by,
or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be
based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of,
or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which such officer's certificate or opinion are
based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based,
insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the
information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the
Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should
know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such
matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
Whenever, subsequent to the receipt by the Trustee of any Board
Resolution, Officer's Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or other document or
instrument, a clerical, typographical or other inadvertent or unintentional
error or omission shall be discovered therein, a new document or instrument may
be substituted therefor in corrected form with the same force and effect as if
originally filed in the corrected form and, irrespective of the date or dates of
the actual execution and/or delivery thereof, such substitute document or
12
instrument shall be deemed to have been executed and/or delivered as of the date
or dates required with respect to the document or instrument for which it is
substituted. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, if any
such corrective document or instrument indicates that action has been taken by
or at the request of the Company which could not have been taken had the
original document or instrument not contained such error or omission, the action
so taken shall not be invalidated or otherwise rendered ineffective but shall be
and remain in full force and effect, except to the extent that such action was a
result of willful misconduct or bad faith. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, any Securities issued under the authority of such defective
document or instrument shall nevertheless be the valid obligations of the
Company entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and ratably with all
other Outstanding Securities, except as aforesaid.
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
election, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made,
given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more
instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in
person or by an agent duly appointed in writing or, alternatively, may be
embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders voting in favor
thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any
meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions
of Article Thirteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such
record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall
become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are
delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to
the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the
action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes
referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or
instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any
such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the
holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose
of this Indenture and (subject to Section 901) conclusive in favor of the
Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
The record of any meeting of Holders shall be proved in the manner
provided in Section 1306.
13
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer
authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the
individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the
execution thereof or may be proved in any other manner which the Trustee
and the Company deem sufficient. Where such execution is by a signer
acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate
or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority.
(c) The principal amount (except as otherwise contemplated in clause
(y) of the first proviso to the definition of Outstanding) and serial
numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the
same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
election, waiver or other Act of a Holder shall bind every future Holder
of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the
registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu
thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the
Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of
such action is made upon such Security.
(e) Until such time as written instruments shall have been delivered
to the Trustee with respect to the requisite percentage of principal
amount of Securities for the action contemplated by such instruments, any
such instrument executed and delivered by or on behalf of a Holder may be
revoked with respect to any or all of such Securities by written notice by
such Holder or any subsequent Holder, proven in the manner in which such
instrument was proven.
(f) Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, authenticated
and delivered after any Act of Holders may, and shall if required by the
Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any action
taken by such Act of Holders. If the Company shall so determine, new
Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, so modified as to
conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to such action may
be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series or
Tranche.
14
(g) If the Company shall solicit from Holders any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the
Company may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the
determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, 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 Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the
Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be
deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of
the requisite proportion of the Outstanding Securities have authorized or
agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding
Securities shall be computed as of the record date.
SECTION 105. Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
election, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by
this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, the
Trustee by any Holder or by the Company, or the Company by the Trustee or by any
Holder, shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein
expressly provided) if in writing and delivered personally to an officer or
other responsible employee of the addressee at the applicable location set forth
below or at such other location as such party may from time to time designate by
written notice, or transmitted by facsimile transmission or other direct written
electronic means to such telephone number or other electronic communications
address as the parties hereto shall from time to time designate by written
notice, or transmitted by certified or registered mail, charges prepaid, to the
applicable address set forth below or to such other address as either party
hereto may from time to time designate by written notice:
If to the Trustee, to:
United States Trust Company of New York
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Vice President, Corporate Trust Department
Telephone: (212) 852-1671
Telecopy: (212) 852-1626
15
If to the Company, to:
GPU, Inc.
300 Madison Avenue
Morristown, New Jersey 07962
Attention: Vice President and Treasurer
Telephone: (973) 401-8519
Telecopy: (973) 644-4224
Any communication contemplated herein shall be deemed to have been made, given,
furnished and filed if personally delivered, on the date of delivery, if
transmitted by facsimile transmission or other direct written electronic means,
on the date of receipt, and if transmitted by certified or registered mail, on
the date of receipt.
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture
provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently
given, and shall be deemed given, to Holders if in writing and mailed,
first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at the
address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, not later than
the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any,
prescribed for the giving of such notice.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by
reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to
Holders by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of
the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose
hereunder. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the
failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any
particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to
other Holders.
Any notice required by this Indenture may be waived in writing by
the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event
otherwise to be specified therein, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of
such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but
such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action
taken in reliance upon such waiver.
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts
with another provision hereof which is required or
16
deemed to be included in this Indenture by, or is otherwise governed by, any of
the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such other provision shall control;
and if any provision hereof otherwise conflicts with the Trust Indenture Act,
the Trust Indenture Act shall control unless otherwise provided as contemplated
by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities.
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings in this Indenture and the Table of Contents are
for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company and
Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed
or not.
SECTION 110. Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture or the Securities shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or the Securities, express or implied,
shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, their successors
hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Indenture.
SECTION 112. Governing Law.
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that
the law of any other jurisdiction shall be mandatorily applicable.
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or
Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of
Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the
17
Securities other than a provision in Securities of any series, or any Tranche
thereof, or in the Board Resolution or Officer's Certificate which establishes
the terms of the Securities of such series or Tranche, which specifically states
that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) payment of interest or
principal and premium, if any, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such
date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of
Payment, with the same force and effect, and in the same amount, as if made on
the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, as the
case may be, and, if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business
Day, no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and
after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the
case may be, to such Business Day.
18
ARTICLE TWO
Security Forms
SECTION 201. Forms Generally.
The definitive Securities of each series shall be in substantially
the form or forms thereof established in the indenture supplemental hereto
establishing such series or in a Board Resolution establishing such series, or
in an Officer's Certificate pursuant to such supplemental indenture or Board
Resolution, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this
Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification
and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply
with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be
determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution of the Securities. If the form or forms of Securities of any series
are established in a Board Resolution or in an Officer's Certificate pursuant to
a Board Resolution, such Board Resolution and Officer's Certificate, if any,
shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company
Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such
Securities.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 or clause
(g) of Section 1201, the Securities of each series shall be issuable in
registered form without coupons. The definitive Securities shall be produced in
such manner as shall be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as
evidenced by their execution thereof.
SECTION 202. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be in
substantially the form set forth below:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
---------------------------------
as Trustee
By:
-----------------------------
Authorized Signatory
19
ARTICLE THREE
The Securities
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. Subject to the
last paragraph of this Section, prior to the authentication and delivery of
Securities of any series there shall be established by specification in a
supplemental indenture or in a Board Resolution, or in an Officer's Certificate
pursuant to a supplemental indenture or a Board Resolution:
(a) the title of the Securities of such series (which shall
distinguish the Securities of such series from Securities of all other
series);
(b)any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon
registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other
Securities of such series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 406 or 1206
and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed
never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);
(c) the Person or Persons (without specific identification) to whom
interest on Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be
payable on any Interest Payment Date, if other than the Persons in whose
names such Securities (or one or more Predecessor Securities) are
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest;
(d) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of
such series, or any Tranche thereof, is payable or any formulary or other
method or other means by which such date or dates shall be determined, by
reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this
Indenture or otherwise (without regard to any provisions for redemption,
prepayment, acceleration, purchase or extension);
20
(e) the rate or rates at which the Securities of such series, or any
Tranche thereof, shall bear interest, if any (including the rate or rates
at which overdue principal shall bear interest, if different from the rate
or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest prior to Maturity,
and, if applicable, the rate or rates at which overdue premium or interest
shall bear interest, if any), or any formulary or other method or other
means by which such rate or rates shall be determined, by reference to an
index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture or
otherwise; the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue; the
Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the
Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on such Securities
on any Interest Payment Date; the right of the Company, if any, to extend
the interest payment periods and the duration of any such extension as
contemplated by Section 312; and the basis of computation of interest, if
other than as provided in Section 310;
(f) the place or places at which or methods by which (1) the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Securities of
such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, (2) registration of
transfer of Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, may be
effected, (3) exchanges of Securities of such series, or any Tranche
thereof, may be effected and (4) notices and demands to or upon the
Company in respect of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche
thereof, and this Indenture may be served; the Security Registrar for such
series or Tranche; and if such is the case, that the principal of such
Securities shall be payable without presentment or surrender thereof;
(g) the period or periods within which, or the date or dates on
which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon
which the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and any
restrictions on such redemptions, including but not limited to a
restriction on a partial redemption by the Company of the Securities of
any series, or any Tranche thereof, resulting in delisting of such
Securities from any national exchange;
(h) the obligation or obligations, if any, of the Company to redeem
or purchase the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof,
21
pursuant to any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption provisions or
at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which
or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the terms
and conditions upon which such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased,
in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and applicable
exceptions to the requirements of Section 404 in the case of mandatory
redemption or redemption at the option of the Holder;
(i) the denominations in which Securities of such series, or any
Tranche thereof, shall be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple thereof;
(j) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in
which payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be
payable (if other than in Dollars);
(k) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, are to be payable,
at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a coin or currency
other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the
period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which,
such election may be made;
(l) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, are to be payable,
or are to be payable at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof,
in securities or other property, the type and amount of such securities or
other property, or the formulary or other method or other means by which
such amount shall be determined, and the period or periods within which,
and the terms and conditions upon which, any such election may be made;
(m) if the amount payable in respect of principal of or premium, if
any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series, or any Tranche
thereof, may be determined with reference to an index or other fact or
event ascertainable outside of this Indenture, the manner in which such
amounts shall be determined to the extent not established pursuant to
clause (e) of this paragraph;
22
(n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the
principal amount of Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof,
which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 802;
(o) any Events of Default, in addition to those specified in Section
801, with respect to the Securities of such series, and any covenants of
the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such
series, or any Tranche thereof, in addition to those set forth in Article
Six;
(p) the terms, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of such
series, or any Tranche thereof, may be converted into or exchanged for
shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company or any other
Person;
(q) the obligations or instruments, if any, which shall be
considered to be Eligible Obligations in respect of the Securities of such
series, or any Tranche thereof, denominated in a currency other than
Dollars or in a composite currency, and any additional or alternative
provisions for the reinstatement of the Company's indebtedness in respect
of such Securities after the satisfaction and discharge thereof as
provided in Section 701;
(r) if the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, are to
be issued in global form, (i) any limitations on the rights of the Holder
or Holders of such Securities to transfer or exchange the same or to
obtain the registration of transfer thereof, (ii) any limitations on the
rights of the Holder or Holders thereof to obtain certificates therefor in
definitive form in lieu of temporary form and (iii) any and all other
matters incidental to such Securities;
(s) if the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, are to
be issuable as bearer securities, any and all matters incidental thereto
which are not specifically addressed in a supplemental indenture as
contemplated by clause (g) of Section 1201;
(t) to the extent not established pursuant to clause (r) of this
paragraph, any limitations on the rights of the Holders of the Securities
of such Series, or any Tranche thereof, to transfer or exchange such
23
Securities or to obtain the registration of transfer thereof; and if a
service charge will be made for the registration of transfer or exchange
of Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, the amount or terms
thereof;
(u) any exceptions to Section 113, or variation in the definition of
Business Day, with respect to the Securities of such series, or any
Tranche thereof;
(v) any collateral security, assurance or guarantee for the
Securities of such series;
(w)any non-applicability of Section 608 to the Securities of such
series or any exceptions or modifications of Section 608 with respect to
the Securities of such series;
(x) any rights or duties of another Person to assume the obligations
of the Company with respect to the Securities of such series (whether as
joint obligor, primary obligor, secondary obligor or substitute obligor)
and any rights or duties to discharge and release any obligor with respect
to the Securities of such series or the Indenture to the extent related to
such series; and
(y)any other terms of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche
thereof, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture.
With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic
Offering, the indenture supplemental hereto or the Board Resolution which
establishes such series, or the Officer's Certificate pursuant to such
supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, as the case may be, may provide
general terms or parameters for Securities of such series and provide either
that the specific terms of Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof,
shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by
the Company or its agents in accordance with procedures specified in a Company
Order as contemplated by the clause (b) of Section 303.
24
SECTION 302. Denominations.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, the Securities of
each series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof.
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, the Securities
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by an Authorized Officer and may have
the corporate seal of the Company affixed thereto or reproduced thereon attested
by any other Authorized Officer or by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company. The signature of any or all of these officers on the Securities may
be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals
who were at the time of execution Authorized Officers or the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that
such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the
authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at
the date of such Securities.
The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of a series,
for original issue, at one time or from time to time in accordance with the
Company Order referred to below, upon receipt by the Trustee of:
(a) the instrument or instruments establishing the form or forms
and terms of such series, as provided in Sections 201 and 301;
(b) a Company Order requesting the authentication and delivery of
such Securities and, to the extent that the terms of such Securities shall
not have been established in an indenture supplemental hereto or in a
Board Resolution, or in an Officer's Certificate pursuant to a
supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, all as contemplated by
Sections 201 and 301, either (i) establishing such terms or (ii) in the
case of Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, specifying
procedures, acceptable to the Trustee, by which such terms are to be
established (which procedures may provide, to the extent acceptable to the
Trustee, for authentication and delivery pursuant to oral
25
or electronic instructions from the Company or any agent or agents
thereof, which oral instructions are to be promptly confirmed
electronically or in writing), in either case in accordance with the
instrument or instruments delivered pursuant to clause (a) above;
(c) the Securities of such series, executed on behalf of the
Company by an Authorized Officer;
(d) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:
(i) the form or forms of such Securities have been duly
authorized by the Company and have been established in
conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(ii) the terms of such Securities have been duly authorized by the
Company and have been established in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture; and
(iii) such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company in the
manner and subject to any conditions specified in such
Opinion of Counsel, will have been duly issued under this
Indenture and will constitute valid and legally binding
obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits
provided by this Indenture, and enforceable in accordance
with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to laws
relating to or affecting generally the enforcement of
creditors' rights, including, without limitation,
bankruptcy and insolvency laws and to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
provided, however, that, with respect to Securities of a series subject to
a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive such Opinion
of Counsel only once at or prior to the time of the first authentication
of such Securities (provided that such Opinion of Counsel addresses the
authentication and delivery of all Securities of such series) and that in
lieu of the opinions described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above Counsel may
opine that:
26
(x) when the terms of such Securities shall have been established
pursuant to a Company Order or Orders or pursuant to such procedures
(acceptable to the Trustee) as may be specified from time to time by a
Company Order or Orders, all as contemplated by and in accordance with the
instrument or instruments delivered pursuant to clause (a) above, such
terms will have been duly authorized by the Company and will have been
established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and
(y) such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee
in accordance with this Indenture and the Company Order or Orders or
specified procedures referred to in paragraph (x) above and issued and
delivered by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions
specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will have been duly issued under
this Indenture and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations
of the Company, entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, and
enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to
laws relating to or affecting generally the enforcement of creditors'
rights, including, without limitation, bankruptcy and insolvency laws, and
to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic
Offering, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the authorization by the
Company of any of such Securities, the form, terms thereof and the legality,
validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, and compliance of the
authentication and delivery thereof with the terms and conditions of this
Indenture, upon the Opinion of Counsel and other documents delivered pursuant to
Sections 201 and 301 and this Section, as applicable, at or prior to the time of
the first authentication of Securities of such series unless and until such
opinion or other documents have been superseded or revoked or expire by their
terms. In connection with the authentication and delivery of Securities of a
series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall be entitled to assume
that the Company's instructions to authenticate and deliver such Securities do
not violate any applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order of
any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Company.
If the form or terms of the Securities of any series have been
established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer's Certificate as
permitted by Sections 201 or 301, the Trustee shall not be required to
27
authenticate such Securities if the issuance of such Securities pursuant to this
Indenture will materially or adversely affect the Trustee's own rights, duties
or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner
which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, each Security shall
be dated the date of its authentication.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, no Security shall be entitled to any
benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless
there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in
the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent
by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive
evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated
and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and
delivered hereunder to the Company, or any Person acting on its behalf, but
shall never have been issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall
deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309
together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and
need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has
never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture
such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered
hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits hereof.
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, or
any Tranche thereof, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed,
lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized
denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of
which they are issued, with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may
determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities;
28
provided, however, that temporary Securities need not recite specific
redemption, sinking fund, conversion or exchange provisions.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, after the
preparation of definitive Securities of such series or Tranche, the temporary
Securities of such series or Tranche shall be exchangeable, without charge to
the Holder thereof, for definitive Securities of such series or Tranche upon
surrender of such temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company
maintained pursuant to Section 602 in a Place of Payment for such Securities.
Upon such surrender of temporary Securities for such exchange, the Company
shall, except as aforesaid, execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver in exchange therefor definitive Securities of the same series and
Tranche of authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal
amount.
Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, temporary
Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and Tranche and of like
tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder.
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and
Exchange.
The Company shall cause to be kept in each office designated
pursuant to Section 602, with respect to the Securities of each series, a
register (all registers kept in accordance with this Section being collectively
referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration
of Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, and the registration of
transfer thereof. The Company shall designate one Person to maintain the
Security Register for the Securities of each series on a consolidated basis, and
such Person is referred to herein, with respect to such series, as the "Security
Registrar." Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may
designate one or more of its offices as an office in which a register with
respect to the Securities of one or more series shall be maintained, and the
Company may designate itself the Security Registrar with respect to one or more
of such series. The Security Register shall be open for inspection by the
Trustee and the Company at all reasonable times.
29
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, upon surrender
for registration of transfer of any Security of such series or Tranche at the
office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 602 in a Place of
Payment for such series or Tranche, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series and Tranche, of
authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the
Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, any Security of such series or
Tranche may be exchanged at the option of the Holder, for one or more new
Securities of the same series and Tranche, of authorized denominations and of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to
be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so
surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is
entitled to receive.
All Securities delivered upon any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the
same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the
Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer
or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the
Security Registrar) be duly endorsed or shall be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee or the
Security Registrar, as the case may be, duly executed by the Holder thereof or
his attorney duly authorized in writing.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, no service charge
shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but
the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of
transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section
304, 406 or 1206 not involving any transfer.
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The Company shall not be required to execute or to provide for the
registration of transfer of or the exchange of (a) Securities of any series, or
any Tranche thereof, during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date
notice is to be given identifying the serial numbers of the Securities of such
series or Tranche called for redemption or (b) any Security so selected for
redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security
being redeemed in part.
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Security of the same series and Tranche, and of like tenor and
principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a)
evidence to their satisfaction of the ownership of and the destruction, loss or
theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be reasonably
required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless,
then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security
is held by a Person purporting to be the owner of such Security, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any
such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and
Tranche, and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case any such mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and
payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security,
pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, 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 reasonable expenses
(including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed,
lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone other than
the Holder of such new Security, and any such new Security shall be entitled to
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all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all
other Securities of such series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to
the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, interest on any
Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest.
Subject to Section 312, any interest on any Security of any series
which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease
to be payable to the Holder on the related Regular Record Date by virtue of
having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company,
at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:
(a)The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest
to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their
respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business
on a date (herein called a "Special Record Date") for the payment of such
Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The
Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted
Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date
of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit
with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed
to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to
the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in
trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest
as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not
more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the
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proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the
Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly
notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the
expense of the Company, shall promptly cause notice of the proposed
payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to
be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of
such series at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security
Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice
of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record
Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid
to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their
respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business
on such Special Record Date.
(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the
Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with
the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may
be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if,
after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment
pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed
practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305,
each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or
in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to
interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other
Security.
SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the absolute owner of
such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium,
if any, and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Security
and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue,
and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee
shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
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SECTION 309. Cancellation by Security Registrar.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Security
Registrar, be delivered to the Security Registrar and, if not theretofore
canceled, shall be promptly canceled by the Security Registrar. The Company may
at any time deliver to the Security Registrar for cancellation any Securities
previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have
acquired in any manner whatsoever or which the Company shall not have issued and
sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Security
Registrar. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for
any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly
permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Security
Registrar shall be disposed of in accordance with the customary practices of the
Security Registrar at the time in effect, and the Security Registrar shall not
be required to destroy any such certificates. The Security Registrar shall
promptly deliver a certificate of disposition to the Trustee and the Company
unless, by a Company Order, similarly delivered, the Company shall direct that
canceled Securities be returned to it. The Security Registrar shall promptly
deliver evidence of any cancellation of a Security in accordance with this
Section 309 to the Trustee and the Company.
SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, interest on the Securities of
each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of
twelve 30-day months and for any period shorter than a full month, on the basis
of the actual number of days elapsed in such period.
SECTION 311. Payment to Be in Proper Currency.
In the case of the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof,
denominated in any currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency (the
"Required Currency"), except as otherwise specified with respect to such
Securities as contemplated by Section 301, the obligation of the Company to make
any payment of the principal thereof, or the premium or interest thereon, shall
not be discharged or satisfied by any tender by the Company, or recovery by the
Trustee, in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent
34
that such tender or recovery shall result in the Trustee timely holding the full
amount of the Required Currency then due and payable. If any such tender or
recovery is in a currency other than the Required Currency, the Trustee may take
such actions as it considers appropriate to exchange such currency for the
Required Currency. The costs and risks of any such exchange, including without
limitation the risks of delay and exchange rate fluctuation, shall be borne by
the Company, the Company shall remain fully liable for any shortfall or
delinquency in the full amount of Required Currency then due and payable, and in
no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable therefor except in the case of its
negligence or willful misconduct.
SECTION 312. Extension of Interest Payment.
The Company shall have the right at any time, so long as the Company
is not in default in the payment of interest on the Securities of any series
hereunder, to extend interest payment periods on all Securities of one or more
series, if so specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such
Securities and upon such terms as may be specified as contemplated by Section
301 with respect to such Securities.
ARTICLE FOUR
Redemption of Securities
SECTION 401. Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, which are
redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with
their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301
for Securities of such series or Tranche) in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 402. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be
evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Officer's Certificate. The Company shall,
at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a
shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in
writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of such Securities
to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the
expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such
Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (b) pursuant to an election of
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the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such
Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer's Certificate
evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.
SECTION 403. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series, or any Tranche
thereof, are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be
selected by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series or
Tranche not previously called for redemption, by such method as shall be
provided for any particular series, or, in the absence of any such provision, by
such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide
for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized
denomination for Securities of such series or Tranche or any integral multiple
thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series or Tranche of a
denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of
such series or Tranche; provided, however, that if, as indicated in an Officer's
Certificate, the Company shall have offered to purchase all or any principal
amount of the Securities then Outstanding of any series, or any Tranche thereof,
and less than all of such Securities as to which such offer was made shall have
been tendered to the Company for such purchase, the Trustee, if so directed by
Company Order, shall select for redemption all or any principal amount of such
Securities which have not been so tendered.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security
Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case
of any Securities selected to be redeemed in part, the principal amount thereof
to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all
provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of
any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the
principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
SECTION 404. Notice of Redemption.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, notice of redemption shall be given in the manner
provided in Section 106 to the Holders of the Securities to be redeemed not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.
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All notices of redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date,
(b) the Redemption Price (if known),
(c) if less than all the Securities of any series or Tranche are to
be redeemed, the identification of the particular Securities to be
redeemed and the portion of the principal amount of any Security to be
redeemed in part,
(d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price, together with
accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, will become due and
payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that
interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,
(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered
for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, unless
it shall have been specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect
to such Securities that such surrender shall not be required,
(f) that the redemption is for a sinking or other fund, if such
is the case, and
(g) such other matters as the Company shall deem desirable or
appropriate.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities in
accordance with Section 301, with respect to any notice of redemption of
Securities at the election of the Company, unless, upon the giving of such
notice, such Securities shall be deemed to have been paid in accordance with
Section 701, such notice may state that such redemption shall be conditional
upon the receipt by the Paying Agent or Agents for such Securities, on or prior
to the date fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal
of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Securities and that if
such money shall not have been so received such notice shall be of no force or
effect and the Company shall not be required to redeem such Securities. In the
event that such notice of redemption contains such a condition and such money is
not so received, the redemption shall not be made and within a reasonable time
thereafter notice shall be given, in the manner in which the notice of
redemption was given, that such money was not so received and such redemption
was not required to be made, and the Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities
37
otherwise to have been redeemed shall promptly return to the Holders thereof any
of such Securities which had been surrendered for payment upon such redemption.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of
the Company, and any notice of non-satisfaction of a condition for redemption as
aforesaid, shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the
Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company. Notice of
mandatory redemption of Securities shall be given by the Security Registrar in
the name and at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 405. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, and the
conditions, if any, set forth in such notice having been satisfied, the
Securities or portions thereof so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date,
become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and
after such date (unless, in the case of an unconditional notice of redemption,
the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued
interest, if any) such Securities or portions thereof, if interest-bearing,
shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption
in accordance with such notice, such Security or portion thereof shall be paid
by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any,
to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that no such surrender shall be a
condition to such payment if so specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to such Security; and provided, further, that except as otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such Security, any
installment of interest on any Security the Stated Maturity of which installment
is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holder of such
Security, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close
of business on the related Regular Record Date according to the terms of such
Security and subject to the provisions of Section 307.
SECTION 406. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon the surrender of any Security which is to be redeemed only in
part at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so
requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof
or his attorney duly authorized in writing), the Company shall
38
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such
Security, without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same
series and Tranche, of any authorized denomination requested by such Holder and
of like tenor and in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the
unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.
ARTICLE FIVE
Sinking Funds
SECTION 501. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking
fund for the retirement of the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof,
except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of
such series or Tranche.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, is herein referred to
as a "mandatory sinking fund payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum
amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, or any Tranche
thereof, is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If
provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof,
the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as
provided in Section 502. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the
redemption of Securities of the series or Tranche in respect of which it was
made as provided for by the terms of such Securities.
SECTION 502. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with
Securities.
The Company (a) may deliver to the Trustee Outstanding Securities
(other than any previously called for redemption) of a series or Tranche in
respect of which a mandatory sinking fund payment is to be made and (b) may
apply as a credit Securities of such series or Tranche which have been redeemed
either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities
or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant
to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part
of such mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such
series; provided, however, that no Securities shall be applied in
39
satisfaction of a mandatory sinking fund payment if such Securities shall have
been previously so applied. Securities so applied shall be received and credited
for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such
Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount
of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 503..Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for
the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, the Company shall deliver
to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate specifying:
(a) the amount of the next succeeding mandatory sinking fund
payment for such series or Tranche;
(b) the amount, if any, of the optional sinking fund payment to be
made together with such mandatory sinking fund payment;
(c) the aggregate sinking fund payment;
(d) the portion, if any, of such aggregate sinking fund payment
which is to be satisfied by the payment of cash; and
(e) the portion, if any, of such aggregate sinking fund payment
which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of such
series or Tranche pursuant to Section 502 and stating the basis for such
credit and that such Securities have not previously been so credited, and
the Company shall also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered.
If the Company shall have not delivered such Officer's Certificate
and, to the extent applicable, all such Securities, the next succeeding sinking
fund payment for such series or Tranche shall be made entirely in cash in the
amount of the mandatory sinking fund payment. Not less than 30 days before each
such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be
redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section
403 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at
the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 404. Such
40
notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made
upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 405 and 406.
ARTICLE SIC
Covenants
SECTION 601 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company shall pay the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on the Securities of each series in accordance with the terms
of such Securities and this Indenture.
SECTION 602. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for the Securities of each
series, or any Tranche thereof, an office or agency where payment of such
Securities shall be made, where the registration of transfer or exchange of such
Securities may be effected and where notices and demands to or upon the Company
in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company
shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change
in the location, of each such office or agency and prompt notice to the Holders
of any such change in the manner specified in Section 106. If at any time the
Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency in respect of
Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, or shall fail to furnish the
Trustee with the address thereof, payment of such Securities shall be made,
registration of transfer or exchange thereof may be effected and notices and
demands in respect thereof may be served at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent for all such
purposes in any such event.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies with respect to the Securities of one or more series, or any
Tranche thereof, for any or all of the foregoing purposes and may from time to
time rescind such designations; provided, however, that, unless otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such
series or Tranche, no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve
the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes
in each Place of Payment for such Securities in accordance with the requirements
set forth above. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee,
41
and prompt notice to the Holders in the manner specified in Section 106, of any
such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such
other office or agency.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any office or
agency required by this Section may be maintained at an office of the Company,
in which event the Company shall perform all functions to be performed at such
office or agency.
SECTION 603. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with
respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, it shall, on or
before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on any of such Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of
the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and premium
or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or
otherwise disposed of as herein provided. The Company shall promptly notify the
Trustee of any failure by the Company (or any other obligor on such Securities)
to make any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
such Securities.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for the
Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, it shall, on or before each
due date of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such
Securities, deposit with such Paying Agents sums sufficient (without
duplication) to pay the principal and premium or interest so becoming due, such
sums to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such
principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee)
the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by it so to act.
The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for the Securities of any
series, or any Tranche thereof, other than the Company or the Trustee, to
execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent
shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that
such Paying Agent shall:
(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Securities in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to
such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
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(b) give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or any
other obligor upon such Securities) to make any payment of principal of or
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Securities; and
(c) at any time during the continuance of any such failure, upon the
written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so
held in trust by such Paying Agent and furnish to the Trustee such
information as it possesses regarding the names and addresses of the
Persons entitled to such sums.
The Company may at any time pay, or by Company Order 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 trusts as
those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent and, if
so stated in a Company Order delivered to the Trustee, in accordance with the
provisions of Article Seven; 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.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then
held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of and premium,
if any, or interest, if any, on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two
years after such principal and premium, if any, or interest has become due and
payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or, if then held by the
Company, shall be discharged from such trust; and, upon such payment or
discharge, the Holder of such Security shall, as an unsecured general creditor
and not as a Holder of an Outstanding Security, look only to the Company for
payment of the amount so due and payable and remaining unpaid, and all liability
of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all
liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided,
however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make
any such payment to the Company, may at the expense of the Company cause to be
mailed, on one occasion only, notice to such Holder that such money remains
unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than
30 days from the date of such mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then
remaining will be paid to the Company.
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SECTION 604. Corporate Existence.
Subject to the rights of the Company under Article Eleven, the
Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep
in full force and effect its corporate existence.
SECTION 605. Maintenance of Properties.
The Company shall cause (or, with respect to property owned in
common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) all its properties used or
useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good
condition, repair and working order and shall cause (or, with respect to
property owned in common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) to be
made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements
thereof, all as, in the judgment of the Company, may be necessary so that the
business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted; provided,
however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from
discontinuing, or causing the discontinuance of, the operation and maintenance
of any of its properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the
Company, desirable in the conduct of its business.
SECTION 606. Annual Officer's Certificate as to Compliance.
Not later than April 1 in each year, commencing April 1, 2001, the
Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate which need not
comply with Section 102, executed by the principal executive officer, the
principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company,
as to such officer's knowledge of the Company's compliance with all conditions
and covenants under this Indenture, such compliance to be determined without
regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture, and
making any other statements as may be required by the provisions of Section
314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 607. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any
term, provision or condition set forth in (a) Section 602 or any additional
covenant or restriction specified with respect to the Securities of any series,
or any Tranche thereof, as contemplated by Section 301, if before the time for
such compliance the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
44
amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series and Tranches with respect to
which compliance with Section 602 or such additional covenant or restriction is
to be omitted, considered as one class, shall, by Act of such Holders, either
waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such
term, provision or condition and (b) Section 604, 605 or Article Eleven if
before the time for such compliance the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of Securities Outstanding under this Indenture shall, by Act of such
Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive
compliance with such term, provision or condition; but, in the case of (a) or
(b), no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition
except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become
effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in
respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and
effect.
SECTION 608. Limitation on Liens.
(a) Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, so long as any Securities of any series are
Outstanding, the Company will not pledge, mortgage, hypothecate or grant a
security interest in, or permit any mortgage, pledge, security interest or
other lien upon, any capital stock of any Subsidiary now or hereafter
directly owned by the Company, to secure any Indebtedness (hereinafter
defined) without concurrently making effective provision whereby the
Outstanding Securities shall (so long as such other Indebtedness shall be
so secured) be equally and ratably secured with any and all such other
Indebtedness and any other indebtedness similarly entitled to be equally
and ratably secured; provided, however, that this restriction shall not
apply to nor prevent the creation or existence of:
(1) any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien or
encumbrance upon any such capital stock created at the time of the
acquisition of such capital stock by the Company or within one year
after such time to secure all or a portion of the purchase price for
such capital stock;
45
(2) any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien or
encumbrance upon any such capital stock existing thereon at the time
of the acquisition thereof by the Company (whether or not the
obligations secured thereby are assumed by the Company);
(3) any extension, renewal or refunding of any mortgage,
pledge, security interest, lien or encumbrance permitted by
Subsection (1) or (2) above on capital stock of any Subsidiary
theretofore subject thereto (or substantially the same capital
stock) or any portion thereof; or
(4) any judgment, levy, execution, attachment or other similar
lien arising in connection with court proceedings, provided that
either
(i) the execution or enforcement of each such lien is
effectively stayed within 30 days after entry of the
corresponding judgment (or the corresponding judgment
has been discharged within such 30 day period) and the
claims secured thereby are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings timely commenced and
diligently prosecuted;
(ii) the payment of each such lien is covered in full by
insurance and the insurance company has not denied or
contested coverage thereof; or
(iii) so long as each such lien is adequately bonded, any
appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly
initiated for the review of the corresponding judgment,
decree or order shall not have been fully terminated or
the period within which such proceedings may be
initiated shall not have expired.
For purposes of this Section 608, "Indebtedness" means all
indebtedness, whether or not represented by bonds, debentures, notes or other
securities, created or assumed by the Company for the repayment of money
borrowed. All indebtedness for money borrowed secured by a lien upon capital
stock owned by the Company and upon which indebtedness for money borrowed the
46
Company customarily pays interest, although the Company has not assumed or
become liable for the payment of such indebtedness for money borrowed, shall for
purposes of this Section 608 be deemed to be Indebtedness of the Company. All
indebtedness of others for money borrowed which is guaranteed as to payment of
principal by the Company or in effect guaranteed by the Company through a
contingent agreement to purchase such indebtedness for money borrowed shall for
purposes of this Section 608 be deemed to be Indebtedness of the Company, but no
other contingent obligation of the Company in respect of indebtedness for money
borrowed or other obligations incurred by others shall for purposes of this
Section 608 be deemed to be Indebtedness of the Company.
In case the Company shall propose to pledge, mortgage, hypothecate
or grant a security interest in any capital stock of any Subsidiary owned by the
Company to secure any Indebtedness, other than as permitted by Subsections
(a)(1) to (a)(3), inclusive, of this Section, the Company will prior thereto
give written notice thereof to the Trustee, and the Company will prior to or
simultaneously with such pledge, mortgage, hypothecation or grant of security
interest, by supplemental indenture executed to the Trustee (or to the extent
legally necessary to another trustee or an additional or separate trustee), in
form satisfactory to the Trustee, effectively secure (for so long as such other
Indebtedness shall be so secured) all the Securities equally and ratably with
such Indebtedness and with any other indebtedness for money borrowed similarly
entitled to be equally and ratably secured.
(b) Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, the provisions of Subsection (a) of this Section
608 shall not apply in the event that the Company shall pledge, mortgage,
hypothecate or grant a security interest in or other lien upon any capital
stock of any Subsidiary now or hereafter owned by the Company to secure
any Indebtedness which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing
restriction up to an aggregate amount which, together with all other
Indebtedness (other than mortgages, pledges, security interests, liens or
encumbrances permitted by Subsection (a) of this Section 608) which would
otherwise be subject to the foregoing restriction, does not at the time
exceed 5% of Consolidated Capitalization.
47
For purposes of this Section 608:
(1) The term "Consolidated Capitalization" means the sum
obtained by adding (i) Consolidated Shareholders' Equity, (ii)
Consolidated Indebtedness for money borrowed (exclusive of any
thereof which is due and payable within one year of the date such
sum is determined) and, without duplication, (iii) any preference or
preferred stock of the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary which
is subject to mandatory redemption or sinking fund provisions.
(2) The term "Consolidated Shareholders' Equity" means the
total Assets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries less
all liabilities of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries. As
used in this definition, "liabilities" means all obligations which
would, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
be classified on a balance sheet as liabilities, including without
limitation, (i) indebtedness secured by property of the Company or
any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries whether or not the Company or
such Consolidated Subsidiary is liable for the payment thereof
unless, in the case that the Company or such Consolidated Subsidiary
is not so liable, such property has not been included among the
Assets of the Company or such Consolidated Subsidiary on such
balance sheet, (ii) deferred liabilities, (iii) indebtedness of the
Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries that is expressly
subordinated in right and priority of payment to other liabilities
of the Company or such Consolidated Subsidiary. As used in this
definition, "liabilities" includes preference or preferred stock of
the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary only to the extent of any
such preference or preferred stock that is subject to mandatory
redemption or sinking fund provisions.
(3) The term "Consolidated Subsidiary" means at any date any
Subsidiary the financial statements of which under generally
accepted accounting principles would be consolidated with those of
the Company in its consolidated financial statements as of such
date.
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(4) The "Assets" of any Person means the whole or any part of its
business, property, assets, cash and receivables.
(5) The term "Consolidated Indebtedness" means total
indebtedness as shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the
Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE SEVEN
Satisfaction and Discharge
SECTION 701. Satisfaction and Discharge of Securities.
Any Security or Securities, or any portion of the principal amount
thereof, shall be deemed to have been paid for all purposes of this Indenture,
and the entire indebtedness of the Company in respect thereof shall be deemed to
have been satisfied and discharged, if there shall have been irrevocably
deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company), in
trust:
(a) money in an amount which shall be sufficient, or
(b) in the case of a deposit made prior to the Maturity of such
Securities or portions thereof, Eligible Obligations, which shall not
contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment thereof
at the option of the issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on
which when due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide
moneys which, together with the money, if any, deposited with or held by
the Trustee or such Paying Agent, shall be sufficient, or
(c) a combination of (a) or (b) which shall be sufficient,
to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due
and to become due on such Securities or portions thereof on or prior to
Maturity; provided, however, that in the case of the provision for payment or
redemption of less than all the Securities of any series or Tranche, such
Securities or portions thereof shall have been selected by the Trustee as
provided herein and, in the case of a redemption, the notice requisite to the
validity of such redemption shall have been given or irrevocable authority shall
have been given by the
49
Company to the Trustee to give such notice, under arrangements satisfactory to
the Trustee; and provided, further, that the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee and such Paying Agent:
(x) if such deposit shall have been made prior to the Maturity
of such Securities, a Company Order stating that the money and
Eligible Obligations deposited in accordance with this Section shall
be held in trust, as provided in Section 703; and
(y) if Eligible Obligations shall have been deposited, an
Opinion of Counsel that the obligations so deposited constitute
Eligible Obligations and do not contain provisions permitting the
redemption or other prepayment at the option of the issuer thereof,
and an opinion of an independent public accountant of nationally
recognized standing, selected by the Company, to the effect that the
requirements set forth in clause (b) above have been satisfied; and
(z) if such deposit shall have been made prior to the Maturity
of such Securities, an Officer's Certificate stating the Company's
intention that, upon delivery of such Officer's Certificate, its
indebtedness in respect of such Securities or portions thereof will
have been satisfied and discharged as contemplated in this Section.
Upon the deposit of money or Eligible Obligations, or both, in
accordance with this Section, together with the documents required by clauses
(x), (y) and (z) above, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Request,
acknowledge in writing that the Security or Securities or portions thereof with
respect to which such deposit was made are deemed to have been paid for all
purposes of this Indenture and that the entire indebtedness of the Company in
respect thereof has been satisfied and discharged as contemplated in this
Section. In the event that all of the conditions set forth in the preceding
paragraph shall have been satisfied in respect of any Securities or portions
thereof except that, for any reason, the Officer's Certificate specified in
clause (z) shall not have been delivered, such Securities or portions thereof
shall nevertheless be deemed to have been paid for all purposes of this
Indenture, and the Holders of such Securities or portions thereof shall
nevertheless be no longer entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or of any
of the covenants of the Company under Article Six (except the covenants
contained in Sections
50
602 and 603) or any other covenants made in respect of such Securities or
portions thereof as contemplated by Section 301, but the indebtedness of the
Company in respect of such Securities or portions thereof shall not be deemed to
have been satisfied and discharged prior to Maturity for any other purpose, and
the Holders of such Securities or portions thereof shall continue to be entitled
to look to the Company for payment of the indebtedness represented thereby; and,
upon Company Request, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing that such
Securities or portions thereof are deemed to have been paid for all purposes of
this Indenture.
If payment at Stated Maturity of less than all of the Securities of
any series, or any Tranche thereof, is to be provided for in the manner and with
the effect provided in this Section, the Security Registrar shall select such
Securities, or portions of principal amount thereof, in the manner specified by
Section 403 for selection for redemption of less than all the Securities of a
series or Tranche.
In the event that Securities which shall be deemed to have been paid
for purposes of this Indenture, and, if such is the case, in respect of which
the Company's indebtedness shall have been satisfied and discharged, all as
provided in this Section do not mature and are not to be redeemed within the 60
day period commencing with the date of the deposit of moneys or Eligible
Obligations, as aforesaid, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, give a
notice, in the same manner as a notice of redemption with respect to such
Securities, to the Holders of such Securities to the effect that such deposit
has been made and the effect thereof.
Notwithstanding that any Securities shall be deemed to have been
paid for purposes of this Indenture, as aforesaid, the obligations of the
Company and the Trustee in respect of such Securities under Sections 304, 305,
306, 404, 503 (as to notice of redemption), 602, 603, 907 and 915 and this
Article Seven shall survive.
The Company shall pay, and shall indemnify the Trustee or any Paying
Agent with which Eligible Obligations shall have been deposited as provided in
this Section against, any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed
against such Eligible Obligations or the principal or interest received in
respect of such Eligible Obligations, including, but not limited to, any such
tax payable by any entity deemed, for tax purposes, to have been created as a
result of such deposit.
51
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) if, at any time
after a Security would be deemed to have been paid for purposes of this
Indenture, and, if such is the case, the Company's indebtedness in respect
thereof would be deemed to have been satisfied or discharged, pursuant to this
Section (without regard to the provisions of this paragraph), the Trustee or any
Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall be required to return the money or
Eligible Obligations, or combination thereof, deposited with it as aforesaid to
the Company or its representative under any applicable Federal or State
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, such Security shall thereupon be
deemed retroactively not to have been paid and any satisfaction and discharge of
the Company's indebtedness in respect thereof shall retroactively be deemed not
to have been effected, and such Security shall be deemed to remain Outstanding
and (b) any satisfaction and discharge of the Company's indebtedness in respect
of any Security shall be subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of
Section 603.
SECTION 702. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall upon Company Request, accompanied by an
Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel in compliance with Section 102
of this Indenture, cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter
expressly provided), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall
execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture, when
(a) no Securities remain Outstanding hereunder; and
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums
payable hereunder by the Company;
provided, however, that if, in accordance with the last paragraph of Section
701, any Security, previously deemed to have been paid for purposes of this
Indenture, shall be deemed retroactively not to have been so paid, this
Indenture shall thereupon be deemed retroactively not to have been satisfied and
discharged, as aforesaid, and to remain in full force and effect, and the
Company shall execute and deliver such instruments as the Trustee shall
reasonably request to evidence and acknowledge the same.
52
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as
aforesaid, the obligations of the Company and the Trustee under Sections 304,
305, 306, 404, 503 (as to notice of redemption), 602, 603, 907 and 915 and this
Article Seven shall survive.
Upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as provided in
this Section, the Trustee shall assign, transfer and turn over to the Company,
subject to the lien provided by Section 907, any and all money, securities and
other property then held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the
Securities other than money and Eligible Obligations held by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 703.
SECTION 703. Application of Trust Money.
Neither the Eligible Obligations nor the money deposited pursuant to
Section 701, nor the principal or interest payments on any such Eligible
Obligations, shall be withdrawn or used for any purpose other than, and shall be
held in trust for, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on the Securities or portions of principal amount thereof in
respect of which such deposit was made, all subject, however, to the provisions
of Section 603; provided, however, that, so long as there shall not have
occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, any cash received from such
principal or interest payments on such Eligible Obligations, if not then needed
for such purpose, shall, to the extent practicable and upon Company Request, be
invested in Eligible Obligations of the type described in clause (b) in the
first paragraph of Section 701 maturing at such times and in such amounts as
shall be sufficient, together with any other moneys and the principal of and
interest on any other Eligible Obligations then held by the Trustee, to pay when
due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to
become due on such Securities or portions thereof on and prior to the Maturity
thereof, and interest earned from such reinvestment shall be paid over to the
Company as received, free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this
Indenture except the lien provided by Section 907; and provided, further, that,
so long as there shall not have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default,
any moneys held in accordance with this Section on the Maturity of all such
Securities in excess of the amount required to pay the principal of and premium,
if any, and interest, if any, then due on such Securities shall be paid over to
the Company free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture
except the lien provided by Section 907; and
53
provided, further, that if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, moneys to be paid over to the Company pursuant to this Section shall
be held until such Event of Default shall have been waived or cured.
ARTICLE EIGHT
Events of Default; Remedies
SECTION 801. Events of Default.
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to Securities
of any series, means any one of the following events:
(a) failure to pay interest, if any, on any Security of such series
within 30 days after the same becomes due and payable; provided, however,
that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company as
contemplated in Section 312 of this Indenture shall not constitute a
failure to pay interest for this purpose; or
(b) failure to pay the principal of or premium, if any, on any
Security of such series at its Maturity; or
(c) failure to perform or breach of any covenant or warranty of the
Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in
the performance of which or breach of which is elsewhere in this Section
specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this
Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other
than such series) for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by
registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee, or to the
Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 33% in principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of such series, a written notice specifying
such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that
such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder, unless the Trustee, or the
Trustee and the Holders of a principal amount of Securities of such series
not less than the principal amount of Securities the Holders of which gave
such notice, as the case may be, shall agree in writing to an extension of
such period prior to its expiration; provided, however, that the Trustee,
or the Trustee and the Holders of such principal amount of Securities of
such series, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have agreed to an
extension of such period if corrective action is
54
initiated by the Company within such period and is being diligently
pursued; or
(d) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (1)
a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary
case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (2) a decree or order
adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly
filed a petition by one or more Persons other than the Company seeking
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of
the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a
custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other
similar official for the Company or for any substantial part of its
property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and
any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order
shall have remained unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive
days; or
(e) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or
proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to
be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry
of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in a case or
proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any
bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by
it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief
under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the
filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a
custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or
similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its
property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its
debts generally as they become due, or the authorization of such action by
the Board of Directors; or
(f) any other Event of Default specified with respect to
Securities of such series.
55
SECTION 802. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and
Annulment.
If an Event of Default due to the default in payment of principal
of, or interest on, any series of Securities or due to the default in the
performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty of the Company
applicable to the Securities of such series but not applicable to all
Outstanding Securities shall have occurred and be continuing, either the Trustee
or the Holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of the Securities of
such series may then declare the principal amount (or, if any of the Securities
of such series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as
may be specified in the terms thereof as contemplated by Section 301) of all
Securities of such series and interest accrued thereon to be due and payable
immediately. If an Event of Default due to default in the performance of any
other of the covenants or agreements herein applicable to all Outstanding
Securities or an Event of Default specified in Section 801(d) or (e) shall have
occurred and be continuing, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than
33% in principal amount of all Securities then Outstanding (considered as one
class), and not the Holders of the Securities of any one of such series, may
declare the principal of all Securities and interest accrued thereon to be due
and payable immediately. As a consequence of each such declaration (herein
referred to as a declaration of acceleration) with respect to Securities of any
series, the principal amount (or portion thereof in the case of Discount
Securities) of such Securities and interest accrued thereon shall become due and
payable immediately.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Securities of any series shall have been made and before a judgment or decree
for payment of the money due shall have been obtained by the Trustee as
hereinafter in this Article provided, the Event or Events of Default giving rise
to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to
have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without
further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if
(a) the Company shall have paid or deposited with the Trustee a
sum sufficient to pay
(1) all overdue interest on all Securities of such series;
56
(2) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Securities of
such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration
of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed
therefor in such Securities;
(3) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful,
interest upon overdue interest, if any, at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities;
(4) all amounts due to the Trustee under Section 907;
and
(b) any other Event or Events of Default with respect to Securities
of such series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of Securities
of such series which shall have become due solely by such declaration of
acceleration, shall have been cured or waived as provided in Section 813.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
SECTION 803. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for
Enforcement by Trustee.
If an Event of Default described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 801
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company shall, upon demand of the
Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of the
series with respect to which such Event of Default shall have occurred, the
whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and premium,
if any, and interest, if any, and, to the extent permitted by law, interest on
any overdue principal and interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in
such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 907.
If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such
demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may
institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and
unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may
enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities
and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided
by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such
Securities, wherever situated.
57
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed
to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of
such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem
most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific
enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the
exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 804. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency,
liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or
other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the
Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their
creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities
shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or
otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on
the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled
and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal,
premium, if any, and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the
Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary
or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any
claim for amounts due to the Trustee under Section 907) and of the Holders
allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable
or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or
other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by
each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the
Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to
pay to the Trustee any amounts due it under Section 907. Nothing herein
contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or
58
accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder
thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any
Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 805. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of
Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the
Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession
of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating
thereto, and any such 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 the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the
ratable benefit of the Holders in respect of which such judgment has been
recovered.
SECTION 806. Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be
applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and,
in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or premium, if
any, or interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities in respect of
which or for the benefit of which such money shall have been collected and the
notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender
thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under
Section 907;
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the
Securities for principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, 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 Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest,
if any, respectively; and
Third: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company
or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court
of competent jurisdiction may direct.
Limitation on Suits.
59
SECTION 807. Limitation on Suits
No Holder shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial
or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a
receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(a) such Holder shall have previously given written notice to the
Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of
such series;
(b) the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all series in respect of which an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, considered as one class,
shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in
respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice,
request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such
proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have
been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of
all series in respect of which an Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, considered as one class;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have
any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision
of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of
such Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any
other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in
the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such
Holders.
60
SECTION 808. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive
Principal, Premium and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of
any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to
receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to
Sections 307 and 312) interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity
or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the
Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment,
and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 809. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to
enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding shall have
been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined
adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject
to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, and Trustee and such
Holder shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions
hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and such Holder
shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 810. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of Section 306,
no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the
Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every
right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in
addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any
right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 811. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any
right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right
or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence
therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee
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or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be
deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
SECTION 812. Control by Holders of Securities.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing in
respect of a series of Securities, the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with
respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however, that if an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to more than one
series of Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of all such series, considered as one class, shall
have the right to make such direction, and not the Holders of the Securities of
any one of such series; and provided, further, that such direction shall not be
in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture. The Trustee may take
any other action, deemed proper by the Trustee, which is not inconsistent with
any such direction. Before proceeding to exercise any right or power hereunder
at the direction of such Holders, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive from
such Holders reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and
liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with any such direction.
SECTION 813. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the
Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such
series and its consequences, except a default
(a)in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or
(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Section
1202 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of
each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any and
all Events of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for
every purpose of this
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Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 814. Undertaking for Costs.
The Company and the Trustee agree, and each Holder by his acceptance
thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion
require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered 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 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the
Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any
Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series in respect of which
such suit may be brought, considered as one class, or to any suit instituted by
any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or premium, if
any, or interest, if any, on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or
Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or
after the Redemption Date).
SECTION 815. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so)
that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever
claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants
or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law
and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any
power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of
every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
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ARTICLE NINE
The Trustee
SECTION 901. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and
responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee in the
Trust Indenture Act and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read
into this Indenture against the Trustee. For purposes of Sections 315(a)
and 315(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the term "default" is hereby
defined as an Event of Default which has occurred and is continuing.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any
of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing
that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture to the
contrary, the duties and responsibilities of the Trustee under this
Indenture shall be subject to the protections, exculpations and
limitations on liability afforded to an indenture trustee under the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. For the purposes of Sections
315(b)(2) and 315(d)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act, the term "responsible
officer" is hereby defined as a Responsible Officer and the chairman or
vice chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or vice chairman of
the executive committee of the board of directors, the president, any vice
president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer any
assistant treasurer, the cashier, any assistant cashier, any trust officer
or assistant trust officer, the controller and any assistant controller of
the Trustee, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by a Responsible Officer or any of
the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular
corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred
because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
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(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of
this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or
affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of
this Section.
SECTION 902. Notice of Defaults.
The Trustee shall give notice of any default hereunder known to the
Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to the Holders of
Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent required to do so by
the Trust Indenture Act, unless such default shall have been cured or waived;
provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in
Section 801(c), no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 45 days
after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section and clause (h) of
Section 903, the term "default" means any event which is, or after notice or
lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default.
SECTION 903. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 901 and to the applicable
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or
other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall
be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, or as
otherwise expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the Board of
Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee
shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to
taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless
other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer's Certificate;
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(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, suffered or
omitted by it 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 or
direction of any Holder pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holder
shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against
the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in
compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further
inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit,
and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or
investigation, it shall (subject to applicable legal requirements) be
entitled to examine, during normal business hours, the books, records and
premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;
(g) 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; and
(h) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default
or Event of Default, as the case may be, with respect to the Securities of
any series for which it is acting as Trustee unless either (1) a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge that such
default or Event of Default, as the case may be, exists and constitutes a
default or Event of Default under this Indenture or (2) written notice of
such default or Event of Default, as the case may be, shall have been
given in the manner provided in Section 105 hereof to the Trustee by the
Company, any other obligor on such Securities or by any Holder of such
Securities.
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SECTION 904. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of
Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities (except the
Trustee's certificates of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of
the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the
Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or
application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 905. May Hold Securities.
Each of the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any
Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any
other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to
Sections 908 and 913, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights
it would have if it were not the Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent,
Security Registrar or such other agent.
SECTION 906. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder 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 money received by it hereunder except as
expressly provided herein or otherwise agreed with, and for the sole benefit of,
the Company.
SECTION 907. Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company shall
(a) pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for
all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee
of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, reimburse the
Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
advances reasonably incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any
provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the
expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except to the
extent that any such expense, disbursement or
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advance may be attributable to the Trustee's negligence, wilful
misconduct or bad faith; and
(c) indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it harmless from and
against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred by it arising
out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust
or trusts hereunder or the performance of its duties hereunder, including
the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its
powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability
or expense may be attributable to its negligence, wilful misconduct or bad
faith.
As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company
under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon
all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such other than
property and funds held in trust under Section 703 (except as otherwise provided
in Section 703). "Trustee" for purposes of this Section shall include any
predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the negligence, wilful misconduct
or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other
Trustee hereunder.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection
with an Event of Default specified in Section 801(d) or Section 801(e), the
expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the
compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law.
The provisions of this Section 907 shall survive the termination of
this Indenture.
SECTION 908. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee shall have or acquire any conflicting interest within
the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, it shall either eliminate such
conflicting interest or resign to the extent, in the manner and with the effect,
and subject to the conditions, provided in the Trust Indenture Act and this
Indenture. For purposes of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and to
the extent permitted thereby, the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee in respect
of the Securities of any series, shall not be deemed to have a conflicting
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interest arising from its capacity as trustee in respect of the Securities of
any other series.
SECTION 909. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be
(a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States, any State or Territory thereof or the District of Columbia,
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 or State authority, or
(b) if and to the extent permitted by the Commission by rule,
regulation or order upon application, a corporation or other Person
organized and doing business under the laws of a foreign government,
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or the Dollar
equivalent of the applicable foreign currency and subject to supervision
or examination by authority of such foreign government or a political
subdivision thereof substantially equivalent to supervision or examination
applicable to United States institutional trustees,
and, in either case, qualified and eligible under this Article and the Trust
Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of such supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital
and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at
any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with
the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
SECTION 910. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until
the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with
the applicable requirements of Section 911.
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(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the
Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the
Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required
by Section 911 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days
after the giving 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 the Securities of such series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the
Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the
Trustee and to the Company.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 908 after written
request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide
Holder for at least six months, or
(2)the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 909 and
shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by
any such Holder, or
(3)the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged
a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property
shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of
the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of
rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (x) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Securities or (y) subject to Section 814, any Holder
who has been a bona fide Holder for at least six months may, on behalf of
himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and
the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of
acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause
(other than as contemplated in clause (y) in Subsection (d) of this
Section), with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the
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Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee
or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it
being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with
respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at
any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of
any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements
of Section 911. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or
incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of
such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the
successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of
such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section
911, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the
Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any
series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and
accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 911, any Holder who
has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six
months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated,
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(f) So long as no event which is, or after notice or lapse of time,
or both, would become, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, and except with respect to a Trustee appointed by Act of the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
pursuant to Subsection (e) of this Section, if the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee (i) a Board Resolution appointing a successor
Trustee, effective as of a date specified therein, and (ii) an instrument
of acceptance of such appointment, effective as of such date, by such
successor Trustee in accordance with Section 911, the Trustee shall be
deemed to have resigned as contemplated in Subsection (b) of this Section,
the successor Trustee shall be deemed to have been appointed by the
Company pursuant to Subsection (e) of this Section and such appointment
shall be deemed to have been accepted as contemplated in Section 911, all
as of such date, and all other provisions of this Section and Section 911
shall be applicable to such
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resignation, appointment and acceptance except to the extent inconsistent
with this Subsection (f).
(g) The Company (or, should the Company fail so to act promptly, the
successor trustee at the expense of the Company) shall give notice of each
resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities
of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such
series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each
notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series and the address of its corporate trust office.
SECTION 911. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of all series, every such 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 all sums owed to it,
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.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the
Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to
the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an
indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept
such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be
necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each
successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to
which the appointment of such successor
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Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect
to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed
necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or
those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall
continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee and (3) shall add to or
change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to
provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by
more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such
supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the
same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or
trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder
administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and
delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the
retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and
each 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 with respect to the Securities of that or those series to
which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request
of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon
payment of all sums owed to it, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to
such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring
Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series
to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall
execute any instruments which fully vest in and confirm to such successor
Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in Subsection (a)
or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) 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.
SECTION 912. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business.
Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with
which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger,
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conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person
succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the
Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person
shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto. In case any Securities 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 Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such
successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
SECTION 913. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
If the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company or any
other obligor upon the Securities (other than by reason of a relationship
described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act), the Trustee shall be
subject to any and all applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
regarding the collection of claims against the Company or such other obligor.
For purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) the term "cash transaction" means any transaction in which full
payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after
delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other
orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand;
(b) the term "self-liquidating paper" means any draft, bill of
exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or
incurred by the Company for the purpose of financing the purchase,
processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or
merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to,
possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the
receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or
merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is
received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor
relationship with the Company arising from the making, drawing,
negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or
obligation.
SECTION 914. Co-trustees and Separate Trustees.
At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal
requirements of any applicable jurisdiction, the Company and the Trustee shall
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have power to appoint, and, upon the written request of the Trustee or of the
Holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding,
the Company shall for such purpose join with the Trustee in the execution and
delivery of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint, one
or more Persons approved by the Trustee either to act as co-trustee, jointly
with the Trustee, or to act as separate trustee, in either case with such powers
as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person
or Persons, in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power
deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section.
If the Company does not join in such appointment within 15 days after the
receipt by it of a request so to do, or if an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Trustee alone shall have power to make such
appointment.
Should any written instrument or instruments from the Company be
required by any co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed to more fully
confirm to such co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right or
power, any and all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged
and delivered by the Company.
Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted
by law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following
conditions:
(a) the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered, and all
rights, powers, duties and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody
of securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be
deposited or pledged with, the Trustee hereunder, shall be exercised
solely, by the Trustee;
(b) the rights, powers, duties and obligations hereby conferred or
imposed upon the Trustee in respect of any property covered by such
appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed
either by the Trustee or by the Trustee and such co-trustee or separate
trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such
co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under any law of
any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the
Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which
event such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and
performed by such co-trustee or separate trustee;
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(c) the Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing executed by
it, with the concurrence of the Company, may accept the resignation of or
remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this Section,
and, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation of, or remove, any such
co-trustee or separate trustee without the concurrence of the Company.
Upon the written request of the Trustee, the Company shall join with the
Trustee in the execution and delivery of all instruments and agreements
necessary or proper to effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor
to any co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or removed may be
appointed in the manner provided in this Section;
(d) no co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally
liable by reason of any act or omission of the Trustee, or any other such
trustee hereunder; and
(e) any Act of Holders delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed to
have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee.
SECTION 915. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with
respect to the Securities of one or more series, or Tranche thereof, which shall
be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such
series or Tranche issued upon original issuance and upon exchange, registration
of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and
Securities 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. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the
authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee's
certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include
authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent
and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the
Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States, any State or territory thereof or the
District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent,
having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject
to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such
Authenticating Agent publishes
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reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this
Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be
deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall
cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such
Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or
corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an
Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible
under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written
notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time
terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof
to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of
resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating
Agent which shall be 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, with like effect as
if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating
Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
The provisions of Sections 308, 904 and 905 shall be applicable to
each Authenticating Agent.
If an appointment with respect to the Securities of one or more
series shall be made pursuant to this Section, the
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Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the
Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of
authentication substantially in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
-------------------------
As Trustee
By
----------------------
As Authenticating Agent
By
----------------------
Authorized Signatory
If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at
one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating
Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the
Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original
issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing
need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of
Counsel), shall appoint, in accordance with this Section and in accordance with
such procedures as shall be acceptable to the Trustee, an Authenticating Agent
having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to
such series of Securities.
ARTICLE TEN
Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company
SECTION 1001. Lists of Holders.
Semiannually, not later than October 1 and April 1 in each year,
commencing April 1, 2001, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in
writing, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
information as to the names and addresses of the Holders, and the Trustee shall
preserve such information and similar information received by it in any other
capacity and afford to the Holders access to information so preserved by it, all
to such extent, if any, and in such manner as shall be required by the Trust
Indenture Act;
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provided, however, that no such list need be furnished so long as the Trustee
shall be the Security Registrar.
SECTION 1002. Reports by Trustee and Company.
Not later than August 15 in each year, commencing with the year 2001
, the Trustee shall transmit to the Holders, the Commission and each securities
exchange upon which any Securities are listed, a report, dated as of the next
preceding June, 15, with respect to any events and other matters described in
Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, in such manner and to the extent
required by the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall transmit to the Holders,
the Commission and each securities exchange upon which any Securities are
listed, and the Company shall file with the Trustee (within 30 days after filing
with the Commission in the case of reports which pursuant to the Trust Indenture
Act must be filed with the Commission and furnished to the Trustee) and transmit
to the Holders, such other information, reports and other documents, if any, at
such times and in such manner, as shall be required by the Trust Indenture Act.
The Company shall notify the Trustee of the listing of any Securities on any
securities exchange.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer
SECTION 1101. Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain
Terms.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other
Person, or convey or otherwise transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless
(a) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the
Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer,
or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as
an entirety shall be a Person organized and validly existing under the
laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia,
and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed
and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due
and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on all Outstanding Securities and the
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performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the
Company to be performed or observed;
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction 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; and
(c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such
consolidation, merger, conveyance, or other transfer or lease and such
supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to such transactions have been
complied with.
SECTION 1102. Successor Person Substituted.
Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger by the Company
into any other Person or any conveyance, or other transfer or lease of the
properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance
with Section 1101, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into
which the Company is merged or the Person to which such conveyance, transfer or
lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every
right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if
such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter,
except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all
obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities Outstanding
hereunder.
ARTICLE TWELVE
Supplemental Indentures
SECTION 1201. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of
Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at
any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures
supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the
following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company
and the assumption by any such successor of the
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covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities, all as provided
in Article Eleven; or
(b) to add one or more covenants of the Company or other provisions
for the benefit of all Holders or for the benefit of the Holders of, or to
remain in effect only so long as there shall be Outstanding, Securities of
one or more specified series, or one or more specified Tranches thereof,
or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or
(c) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all
or any series of Securities Outstanding hereunder; or
(d) to change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture or to add
any new provision to this Indenture; provided, however, that if such
change, elimination or addition shall adversely affect the interests of
the Holders of Securities of any series or Tranche Outstanding on the date
of such indenture supplemental hereto in any material respect, such
change, elimination or addition shall become effective with respect to
such series or Tranche only pursuant to the provisions of Section 1202
hereof or when no Security of such series or Tranche remains Outstanding;
or
(e) to provide collateral security for all but not part of the
Securities; or
(f) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series or
Tranche as contemplated by Sections 201 and 301; or
(g) to provide for the authentication and delivery of bearer
securities and coupons appertaining thereto representing interest, if any,
thereon and for the procedures for the registration, exchange and
replacement thereof and for the giving of notice to, and the solicitation
of the vote or consent of, the holders thereof, and for any and all other
matters incidental thereto; or
(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a separate or successor Trustee or co-trustee with respect to
the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the
provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or
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facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one
Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 911(b); or
(i) to provide for the procedures required to permit the Company to
utilize, at its option, a noncertificated system of registration for all,
or any series or Tranche of, the Securities; or
(j) to change any place or places where (1) the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all or any series of Securities,
or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, (2) all or any series of
Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration of
transfer, (3) all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may
be surrendered for exchange and (4) notices and demands to or upon the
Company in respect of all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche
thereof, and this Indenture may be served; or
(k) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision
herein, or to make any other changes to the provisions hereof or to add
other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this
Indenture, provided that such other changes or additions shall not
adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series
or Tranche in any material respect.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust
Indenture Act as in effect at the date of the execution and delivery of this
Indenture or at any time thereafter shall be amended and
(x) if any such amendment shall require one or more changes to any
provisions hereof or the inclusion herein of any additional provisions, or
shall by operation of law be deemed to effect such changes or incorporate
such provisions by reference or otherwise, this Indenture shall be deemed
to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment to the Trust
Indenture Act, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of
any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect or
evidence such changes or additional provisions; or
(y) if any such amendment shall permit one or more changes to,
or the elimination of, any provisions hereof
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which, at the date of the execution and delivery hereof or at any time
thereafter, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained
herein, this Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended to effect such
changes or elimination, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the
consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to
evidence such amendment hereof.
SECTION 1202. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities of all series then Outstanding under this Indenture,
considered as one class, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the
Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may
enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of
adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the
provisions of, this Indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the
Holders of Securities of such series under the Indenture; provided, however,
that if there shall be Securities of more than one series Outstanding hereunder
and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the
Holders of Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then
the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one
class, shall be required; and provided, further, that if the Securities of any
series shall have been issued in more than one Tranche and if the proposed
supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of
Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such Tranches, then the consent
only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all Tranches so directly affected, considered as one
class, shall be required; and provided, further, that no such supplemental
indenture shall:
(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the
principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon (or the amount of
any installment of interest thereon) or change the method of calculating
such rate or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or
reduce the amount of the principal of a Discount Security that would be
due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof
pursuant to Section 802, or change the coin or currency (or other
property), in which any Security or any premium or
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the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity of any
Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date),
without, in any such case, the consent of the Holder of such Security, or
(b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, the consent of the
Holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the
consent of the Holders of which is required for any waiver of compliance
with any provision of this Indenture or of any default hereunder and its
consequences, or reduce the requirements of Section 1304 for quorum or
voting, without, in any such case, the consent of the Holders of each
Outstanding Security of such series or Tranche, or
(c) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 607 or
Section 813 with respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche
thereof, except to increase the percentages in principal amount referred
to in this Section or such other Sections or to provide that other
provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby;
provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the
consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to "the
Trustee" and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this
proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 911(b), 914 and
1201(h).
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or
other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for
the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or one or more
Tranches thereof, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of
such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed
not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of
any other series or Tranche.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section
to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it
shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof. A waiver by
a Holder of such Holder's right to consent under this Section shall be deemed to
be a consent of such Holder.
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SECTION 1203. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Section 901) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties, immunities or liabilities under this Indenture or
otherwise.
SECTION 1204. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article,
this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder
of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder
shall be bound thereby. Any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article may
restate this Indenture in its entirety, and, upon the execution and delivery
thereof, any such restatement shall supersede this Indenture as theretofore in
effect for all purposes.
SECTION 1205. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, every supplemental indenture executed
pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act as then in effect.
SECTION 1206. Reference in Securities to Supplemental
Indentures.
Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, authenticated and
delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this
Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form
approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental
indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series, or
any Tranche thereof, so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee
and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed
by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for
Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche.
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SECTION 1207. Modification Without Supplemental Indenture .
If the terms of any particular series of Securities shall have been
established in a Board Resolution or an Officer's Certificate as contemplated by
Section 301, and not in an indenture supplemental hereto, additions to, changes
in or the elimination of any of such terms may be effected by means of a
supplemental Board Resolution or Officer's Certificate, as the case may be,
delivered to, and accepted by, the Trustee; provided, however, that such
supplemental Board Resolution or Officer's Certificate shall not be accepted by
the Trustee or otherwise be effective unless all conditions set forth in this
Indenture which would be required to be satisfied if such additions, changes or
elimination were contained in a supplemental indenture shall have been
appropriately satisfied. Upon the acceptance thereof by the Trustee, any such
supplemental Board Resolution or Officer's Certificate shall be deemed to be a
"supplemental indenture" for purposes of Section 1204 and 1206.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
Meetings of Holders; Action Without Meeting
SECTION 1301. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.
A meeting of Holders of Securities of one or more, or all, series,
or any Tranche or Tranches thereof, may be called at any time and from time to
time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by
this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such
series or Tranches.
SECTION 1302. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.
(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of
Securities of one or more, or all, series, or any Tranche or Tranches
thereof, for any purpose specified in Section 1301, to be held at such
time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
as the Trustee shall determine, or, with the approval of the Company, at
any other place. Notice of every such meeting, setting forth the time and
the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be
taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section
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106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for
the meeting.
(b) If the Trustee shall have been requested to call a meeting of
the Holders of Securities of one or more, or all, series, or any Tranche
or Tranches thereof, by the Company or by the Holders of 33% in aggregate
principal amount of all of such series and Tranches, considered as one
class, for any purpose specified in Section 1301, by written request
setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the
meeting, and the Trustee shall not have given the notice of such meeting
within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter
proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the
Company or the Holders of Securities of such series and Tranches in the
amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the
place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in such other
place as shall be determined or approved by the Company, for such meeting
and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as
provided in Subsection (a) of this Section.
(c) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of one or more, or all,
series, or any Tranche or Tranches thereof, shall be valid without notice
if the Holders of all Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranches
are present in person or by proxy and if representatives of the Company
and the Trustee are present, or if notice is waived in writing before or
after the meeting by the Holders of all Outstanding Securities of such
series, or any Tranche or Tranches thereof, or by such of them as are not
present at the meeting in person or by proxy, and by the Company and the
Trustee.
SECTION 1303. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.
To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of
one or more, or all, series, or any Tranche or Tranches thereof, a Person shall
be (a) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series or
Tranches, or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a
Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series or
Tranches by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to
attend any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series or Tranche shall be
the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any
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representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the
Company and its counsel.
SECTION 1304. Quorum; Action.
The Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of the series and Tranches with respect to
which a meeting shall have been called as hereinbefore provided, considered as
one class, shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of
such series and Tranches; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken
at such meeting which this Indenture expressly provides may be taken by the
Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series and Tranches, considered as
one class, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series and Tranches, considered as
one class, shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within one hour
of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at
the request of Holders of Securities of such series and Tranches, be dissolved.
In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for such period as may be
determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such
meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such
adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for such period as may be determined
by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned
meeting. Except as provided by Section 1305(e), notice of the reconvening of any
meeting adjourned for more than 30 days shall be given as provided in Section
1302(a) not less than 10 days prior to the date on which the meeting is
scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting
shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of such series and Tranches which shall constitute
a quorum.
Except as limited by Section 1202, any resolution presented to a
meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as
aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the
series and Tranches with respect to which such meeting shall have been called,
considered as one class; provided, however, that, except as so limited, any
resolution with respect to any action which this Indenture expressly provides
may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a
majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series
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and Tranches, considered as one class, may be adopted at a meeting or an
adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid
by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series and Tranches, considered as
one class.
Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of
Securities duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the
Holders of Securities of the series and Tranches with respect to which such
meeting shall have been held, whether or not present or represented at the
meeting.
SECTION 1305. Attendance at Meetings; Determination of Voting
Rights;
Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.
(a) Attendance at meetings of Holders of Securities may be in person
or by proxy; and, to the extent permitted by law, any such proxy shall
remain in effect and be binding upon any future Holder of the Securities
with respect to which it was given unless and until specifically revoked
by the Holder or future Holder of such Securities before being voted.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the
Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for
any meeting of Holders of Securities in regard to proof of the holding of
such Securities and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the
appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and
examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to
vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it
shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any
such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner
specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved
in the manner specified in Section 104. Such regulations may provide that
written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be
presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or
other proof.
(c) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a
temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been
called by the Company or by Holders
89
as provided in Section 1302(b), in which case the Company or the Holders
of Securities of the series and Tranches calling the meeting, as the case
may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent
chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote
of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of all series and Tranches represented at
the meeting, considered as one class.
(d) At any meeting each Holder or proxy shall be entitled to one
vote for each $1 principal amount of Securities held or represented by
him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any
meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled
by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the
meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security or
proxy.
(e) Any meeting duly called pursuant to Section 1302 at which a
quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled
to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of all series and Tranches represented at the meeting,
considered as one class; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned
without further notice.
SECTION 1306. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.
The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders
shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the
Holders or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and
serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities, of the series and Tranches with
respect to which the meeting shall have been called, held or represented by
them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of
votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any
resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their
verified written reports of all votes cast at the meeting. A record of the
proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the
meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the
inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or
more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of
the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1302
and, if applicable, Section 1304. Each copy shall be signed and
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verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the
meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the
Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the
ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be
conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
SECTION 1307. Action Without Meeting.
In lieu of a vote of Holders at a meeting as hereinbefore
contemplated in this Article, any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other action may be made, given or taken by Holders
by written instruments as provided in Section 104.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
Immunity of Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors
SECTION 1401. Liability Solely Corporate.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Securities, or any part thereof, or
for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or of the
indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement
under this Indenture, against any incorporator, shareholder, officer or
director, as such, past, present or future of the Company or of any predecessor
or successor corporation (either directly or through the Company or a
predecessor or successor corporation), whether by virtue of any constitutional
provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or
penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that this
Indenture and all the Securities are solely corporate obligations, and that no
personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any
incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, past, present or future, of the
Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or
indirectly through the Company or any predecessor or successor corporation,
because of the indebtedness hereby authorized or under or by reason of any of
the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any
of the Securities or to be implied herefrom or therefrom, and that any such
personal liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of,
and as part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the
issuance of the Securities.
-------------------------
91
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so
executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
92
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to
be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
GPU, INC.
By:
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T. G. Howson
Vice President and Treasurer
UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, Trustee
By:
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Louis F. Young
Vice President