Exhibit 4(c)
----------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
TO
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
Trustee
---------
Indenture
(For Unsecured Subordinated Debt Securities
relating to Trust Securities)
Dated as of March 1, 1996
----------------------------------------------
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PARTIES.................................................................... 1
RECITAL OF THE COMPANY..................................................... 1
ARTICLE ONE................................................................ 1
Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application.................... 1
SECTION 101. Definitions......................................... 1
Act...................................................... 2
Additional Interest...................................... 2
Affiliate................................................ 2
Authenticating Agent..................................... 2
Authorized Officer....................................... 2
Board of Directors....................................... 2
Board Resolution......................................... 2
Business Day............................................. 2
Commission............................................... 3
Company.................................................. 3
Company Request or Company Order......................... 3
Corporate Trust Office................................... 3
corporation.............................................. 3
Defaulted Interest....................................... 3
Dollar or $.............................................. 3
Event of Default......................................... 3
Governmental Authority................................... 3
Government Obligations................................... 3
Guarantee................................................ 4
Holder................................................... 4
Indenture................................................ 4
Interest Payment Date.................................... 4
Maturity................................................. 4
Officer's Certificate.................................... 4
Opinion of Counsel....................................... 4
Outstanding.............................................. 4
Paying Agent............................................. 5
Person................................................... 5
Place of Payment......................................... 5
Predecessor Security..................................... 5
Preferred Securities..................................... 6
Redemption Date.......................................... 6
Redemption Price......................................... 6
Regular Record Date...................................... 6
Responsible Officer...................................... 6
Securities............................................... 6
Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to
be part of the Indenture.
ii
Security Register and Security Registrar................. 6
Senior Indebtedness...................................... 6
Special Record Date...................................... 6
Stated Maturity.......................................... 6
Trust.................................................... 7
Trust Agreement.......................................... 7
Trust Indenture Act...................................... 7
Trustee.................................................. 7
United States............................................ 7
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions................ 7
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.............. 8
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders..................................... 9
SECTION 105. Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company................ 10
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver............. 11
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act................... 12
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents............ 12
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns.............................. 12
SECTION 110. Separability Clause................................. 12
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture............................... 12
SECTION 112. Governing Law....................................... 13
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays...................................... 13
ARTICLE TWO................................................................ 13
Security Forms............................................................. 13
SECTION 201. Forms Generally..................................... 13
SECTION 202. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication..... 14
ARTICLE THREE.............................................................. 14
The Securities............................................................. 14
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series................ 14
SECTION 302. Denominations....................................... 18
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating...... 18
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities................................ 19
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. 20
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.... 21
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved...... 22
SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners............................... 23
SECTION 309. Cancellation by Security Registrar.................. 23
SECTION 310. Computation of Interest............................. 24
SECTION 311. Extension of Interest Payment....................... 24
SECTION 312. Additional Interest................................. 24
ARTICLE FOUR............................................................... 25
Redemption of Securities................................................... 25
Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to
be part of the Indenture.
iii
SECTION 401. Applicability of Article............................ 25
SECTION 402. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee............... 25
SECTION 403. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed.............. 25
SECTION 404. Notice of Redemption................................ 26
SECTION 405. Securities Payable on Redemption Date............... 27
SECTION 406. Securities Redeemed in Part......................... 27
ARTICLE FIVE............................................................... 28
Sinking Funds.............................................................. 28
SECTION 501. Applicability of Article............................ 28
SECTION 502. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with
Securities........................................ 28
SECTION 503. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund........... 28
ARTICLE SIX................................................................ 29
Covenants.................................................................. 29
SECTION 601. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.......... 29
SECTION 602. Maintenance of Office or Agency..................... 29
SECTION 603. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust... 30
SECTION 604. Corporate Existence................................. 31
SECTION 605. Maintenance of Properties........................... 31
SECTION 606. Annual Officer's Certificate as to Compliance....... 32
SECTION 607. Waiver of Certain Covenants......................... 32
SECTION 608. Restriction on Payment of Dividends................. 32
SECTION 609. Maintenance of Trust Existence...................... 33
SECTION 610. Rights of Holders of Preferred Securities........... 33
ARTICLE SEVEN.............................................................. 34
Satisfaction and Discharge................................................. 34
SECTION 701. Defeasance.......................................... 34
SECTION 702. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture............. 36
SECTION 703. Application of Trust Money.......................... 37
ARTICLE EIGHT.............................................................. 37
Events of Default; Remedies................................................ 37
SECTION 801. Events of Default................................... 37
SECTION 802. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.. 39
SECTION 803. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for
Enforcement by Trustee............................ 40
SECTION 804. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.................... 41
SECTION 805. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession
of Securities..................................... 41
SECTION 806. Application of Money Collected...................... 42
SECTION 807. Limitation on Suits................................. 42
SECTION 808. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
Premium and Interest....................................................... 43
Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be
part of the Indenture.
iv
SECTION 809. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.................. 43
SECTION 810. Rights and Remedies Cumulative...................... 43
SECTION 811. Delay or Omission Not Waiver........................ 44
SECTION 812. Control by Holders of Securities.................... 44
SECTION 813. Waiver of Past Defaults............................. 44
SECTION 814. Undertaking for Costs............................... 45
SECTION 815. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.................... 45
ARTICLE NINE............................................................... 45
The Trustee................................................................ 45
SECTION 901. Certain Duties and Responsibilities................. 45
SECTION 902. Notice of Defaults.................................. 46
SECTION 903. Certain Rights of Trustee........................... 46
SECTION 904. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance
of Securities..................................... 47
SECTION 905. May Hold Securities................................. 48
SECTION 906. Money Held in Trust................................. 48
SECTION 907. Compensation and Reimbursement...................... 48
SECTION 908. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests............. 49
SECTION 909. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility............. 49
SECTION 910. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor... 50
SECTION 911. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.............. 52
SECTION 912. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession
to Business....................................... 53
SECTION 913. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company... 53
SECTION 914. Co-trustees and Separate Trustees................... 54
SECTION 915. Appointment of Authenticating Agent................. 55
ARTICLE TEN................................................................ 57
Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company.......................... 57
SECTION 1001. Lists of Holders................................... 57
SECTION 1002. Reports by Trustee and Company..................... 57
ARTICLE ELEVEN............................................................. 57
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer ....................... 57
SECTION 1101. Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on
Certain Terms..................................... 57
SECTION 1102. Successor Corporation Substituted.................. 58
ARTICLE TWELVE............................................................. 58
Supplemental Indentures.................................................... 58
SECTION 1201. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. 58
SECTION 1202. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.... 60
SECTION 1203. Execution of Supplemental Indentures............... 62
SECTION 1204. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.................. 62
SECTION 1205. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act................ 62
Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be
part of the Indenture.
v
SECTION 1206. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. 62
SECTION 1207. Modification Without Supplemental Indenture........ 63
ARTICLE THIRTEEN........................................................... 63
Meetings of Holders; Action Without Meeting................................ 63
SECTION 1301. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.......... 63
SECTION 1302. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings................. 63
SECTION 1303. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings............... 64
SECTION 1304. Quorum; Action..................................... 64
SECTION 1305. Attendance at Meetings; Determination of
Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of
Meetings.......................................... 65
SECTION 1306. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.... 66
SECTION 1307. Action Without Meeting............................. 66
ARTICLE FOURTEEN........................................................... 67
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors............ 67
SECTION 1401. Liability Solely Corporate......................... 67
ARTICLE FIFTEEN............................................................ 67
Subordination of Securities................................................ 67
SECTION 1501. Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness...... 67
SECTION 1502. Payment Over of Proceeds of Securities............. 68
SECTION 1503. Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior
Indebtedness...................................... 70
SECTION 1504. Subrogation........................................ 70
SECTION 1505. Obligation of the Company Unconditional............ 70
SECTION 1506. Priority of Senior Indebtedness Upon Maturity...... 71
SECTION 1507. Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness........... 71
SECTION 1508. Notice to Trustee to Effectuate Subordination...... 71
SECTION 1509. Modification, Extension, etc. of Senior
Indebtedness...................................... 72
SECTION 1510. Trustee Has No Fiduciary Duty to Holders of
Senior Indebtedness............................... 72
SECTION 1511. Paying Agents Other Than the Trustee............... 72
SECTION 1512. Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness
Not Impaired...................................... 72
SECTION 1513. Effect of Subordination Provisions; Termination.... 73
Testimonium................................................................ 74
Signatures and Seals....................................................... 74
Acknowledgements........................................................... 76
Note: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be
part of the Indenture.
MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939
and Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1996
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 March 1, 1996, between MINNESOTA POWER
& LIGHT COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Minnesota (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at
30 West Superior Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a
corporation of the State of New York, having its principal corporate trust
office at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, 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
subordinated 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;
(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
-2-
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.
"Additional Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 312.
"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.
"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.
"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
-3-
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.
"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
Indenture is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.
"corporation" means a corporation, association, company, joint
stock company or business trust.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.
"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.
"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 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
-4-
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.
"Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement delivered from the
Company to a Trust, for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities
issued by such Trust.
"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.
"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 by the Trustee or
delivered to the Trustee 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
-5-
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, 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, 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 all Outstanding
Securities of each such series, as the case may be, determined without regard to
this provision) 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 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.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or unincorporated organization or any Governmental Authority.
"Place of Payment", when used with respect to the Securities of
any series, 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 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.
-6-
"Preferred Securities" means any preferred trust interests issued
by a Trust or similar securities issued by permitted successors to such Trust in
accordance with the Trust Agreement pertaining to such Trust.
"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.
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee,
means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its
corporate trust matters.
"Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this
Indenture and more particularly means any securities authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture.
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 305.
"Senior Indebtedness" means all obligations (other than
non-recourse obligations and the indebtedness issued under this Indenture) of,
or guaranteed or assumed by, the Company for borrowed money, including both
senior and subordinated indebtedness for borrowed money (other than the
Securities), or for the payment of money relating to any lease which is
capitalized on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in
effect from time to time, or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other
similar instruments, and in each case, amendments, renewals, extensions,
modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness or obligations, whether
existing as of the date of this Indenture or subsequently incurred by the
Company unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness, renewal, extension
or refunding, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or the assumption
or guarantee of the same expressly provides that such indebtedness, renewal,
extension or refunding is not superior in right of payment to or is pari passu
with the Securities; provided that the Company's obligations under the Guarantee
shall not be deemed to be Senior Indebtedness.
"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 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).
-7-
"Trust" means MP&L Capital I, a statutory business trust created
under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other Trust designated pursuant
to Section 301 hereof or any permitted successor under the Trust Agreement
pertaining to such Trust.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement,
dated as of , 1996, relating to MP&L Capital I or an Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement relating to a Trust designated pursuant to Section 301 hereof, in each
case, among the Company, as Depositor, the trustees named therein and several
holders referred to therein as they may be amended from time to
time.
"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 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;
-8-
(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
(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
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
-9-
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.
(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 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.
-10-
(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 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 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.
(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, 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, or transmitted by certified or registered mail, charges
prepaid, to the applicable
-11-
address set opposite such party's name below or to such other address as
either party hereto may from time to time designate:
If to the Trustee, to:
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Vice President, Corporate Trust Administration
Telephone: (212) 815-5291
Telecopy: (212) 815-5915
If to the Company, to:
Minnesota Power & Light Company
30 West Superior Street
Duluth, Minnesota 55802
Attention: James K. Vizanko
Telephone: (218) 722-2641
Telecopy: (218) 723-3912
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 transmission, and if transmitted by 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.
-12-
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 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.
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, the Holders and, so long as the notice described in Section 1513
hereof has not been given, the holders of Senior Indebtedness, any benefit or
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture; provided,
however, if the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights with respect to the
Securities or the related Trust Agreement, a holder of Preferred Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce the
Property Trustee's rights with respect to the Securities or such Trust
Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, without first instituting any
legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity.
-13-
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
Securities other than a provision in Securities of any series, or in the Board
Resolution or Officer's Certificate which establishes the terms of the
Securities of such series, 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, except that if such
Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made
on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case 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.
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.
-14-
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, 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.
---------------------------------
as Trustee
By:
------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
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; provided,
however, that all Securities shall be issued to a Trust in exchange for
securities of the Company or to evidence loans by a Trust of the proceeds of the
issuance of Preferred Securities of such Trust plus the amount deposited by the
Company with such Trust from time to time.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. 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
-15-
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 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 is payable or any formulary or other method or other means by
which such date or dates shall be determined, by reference or otherwise
(without regard to any provisions for redemption, prepayment,
acceleration, purchase or extension);
(e) the rate or rates at which the Securities of such series
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 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 311; 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 shall be payable, (2) registration of transfer of Securities
of such series may be effected, (3) exchanges of Securities of such series
may be effected and (4) notices and demands to or upon the Company in
respect of the Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served;
the Security Registrar for such series; 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 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, resulting in delisting of such
Securities from any national exchange;
-16-
(h) the obligation or obligations, if any, of the Company to
redeem or purchase the Securities of such series 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 shall be
issuable if other than denominations of $25 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 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 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 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 may be
determined with reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable
outside this Indenture, the manner in which such amounts shall be
determined to the extent not established pursuant to clause (e) of this
paragraph;
(n) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of
the principal amount of Securities of such series 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, in addition to those set forth in Article Six;
-17-
(p) the terms, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of such
series 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 Government Obligations in respect of the Securities of
such series 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 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 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 to transfer or exchange such 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 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;
(v) the designation of the Trust to which Securities of such
series are to be issued; and
(w) any other terms of the Securities of such series not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture.
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially
identical, except as to principal amount and date of issue and except as may be
set forth in the terms of such series as contemplated above. The Securities of
each series shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness as
provided in Article Fifteen.
-18-
SECTION 302. Denominations.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, the Securities of each series shall be
issuable in denominations of $25 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, 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, establishing such terms;
(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;
-19-
(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).
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
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, 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,
the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver, temporary
-20-
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; 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, after the preparation of definitive
Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be
exchangeable, without charge to the Holder thereof, for definitive Securities of
such series 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, of
authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary
Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits
under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series 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 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.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to the Securities of any series, upon surrender for registration of
transfer of any Security of such series at the office or agency of the Company
maintained pursuant to Section 602 in a Place of Payment for such series, 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, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate
principal amount.
-21-
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to the Securities of any series, any Security of such series may be
exchanged at the option of the Holder, for one or more new Securities of the
same series, 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, 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.
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
during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date of the mailing of any
notice of redemption of such Securities 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 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
-22-
destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series, 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
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, 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 311, 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
-23-
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 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.
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
-24-
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 a Company Order delivered to the Security Registrar and the Trustee, and
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, 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. 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.
SECTION 312. Additional Interest.
So long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if the
Trust which issued such Preferred Securities shall be required to pay, with
respect to its income derived from the interest payments on the Securities of
any series, any amounts for or on account of any taxes, duties, assessments or
governmental charges of whatever nature imposed by the United States, or any
other taxing authority, then, in any such case, the Company will pay as interest
on such series such additional interest ("Additional Interest") as may be
necessary in order that the net amounts received and retained by such Trust
after the payment of such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges
shall result in such Trust's having such funds as it would have had in the
absence of the payment of such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental
charges.
-25-
ARTICLE FOUR
Redemption of Securities
SECTION 401. Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series 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) 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 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 are to be redeemed,
the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee from
the Outstanding Securities of such series 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
any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such
series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for
Securities of such series; 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, 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
-26-
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.
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.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date,
(b) the Redemption Price,
(c) if less than all the Securities of any series 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
-27-
required to be made, and the Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities 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 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, 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.
-28-
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, except as otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by
the terms of Securities of any series 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 is herein referred to as an
"optional sinking fund payment". If provided for by the terms of Securities of
any series, 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 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 in respect of
which a mandatory sinking fund payment is to be made and (b) may apply as a
credit Securities of such series 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 or Outstanding Securities purchased by the Company, 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 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, 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;
(b) the amount, if any, of the optional sinking fund payment to
be made together with such mandatory sinking fund payment;
-29-
(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;
(e) the portion, if any, of such aggregate sinking fund payment
which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of such
series 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 not deliver such Officer's Certificate, the next
succeeding sinking fund payment for such series 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 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 SIX
Covenants
SECTION 601. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company shall pay the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any (including Additional Interest), 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 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 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.
-30-
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,
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, 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, 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, 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, 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 sum 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, 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;
-31-
(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 default, 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.
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
-32-
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 September 15 in each year, commencing September
15, 1996, 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.
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,
as contemplated by Section 301, if before the time for such compliance the
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of all series 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 at least 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; provided, however,
so long as a Trust holds Securities of any series, such Trust may not waive
compliance or waive any default in compliance by the Company with any covenant
or other term contained in this Indenture or the Securities of such series
without the approval of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate
liquidation preference of the outstanding Preferred Securities issued by such
Trust affected, obtained as provided in the Trust Agreement pertaining to such
Trust.
SECTION 608. Restriction on Payment of Dividends.
So long as any Preferred Securities of any series remain
outstanding, the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire or make a
-33-
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock, or make
any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other than payments under
the Guarantee relating to such Preferred Securities) if at such time (a) the
Company shall be in default with respect to its payment or other obligations
under the Guarantee relating to such Preferred Securities, (b) there shall have
occurred and be continuing a payment default (whether before or after expiration
of any period of grace) or an Event of Default hereunder or (c) the Company
shall have elected to extend any interest payment period as provided in Section
311, and any such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing.
SECTION 609. Maintenance of Trust Existence.
So long as Preferred Securities of any series remain outstanding,
the Company shall (i) maintain direct or indirect ownership of all interests in
the Trust which issued such Preferred Securities, other than such Preferred
Securities, (ii) not voluntarily (to the extent permitted by law) dissolve,
liquidate or wind up such Trust, except in connection with a distribution of the
Securities to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of such
Trust, (iii) remain the sole Depositor under the Trust Agreement (the
"Depositor") of such Trust and timely perform in all material respects all of
its duties as Depositor of such Trust, and (iv) use reasonable efforts to cause
such Trust to remain a business trust and otherwise continue to be treated as a
grantor trust for Federal income tax purposes provided that any permitted
successor to the Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company's
duties as Depositor of such Trust; and provided further that the Company may
permit such Trust to consolidate or merge with or into another business trust or
other permitted successor under the Trust Agreement pertaining to such Trust so
long as the Company agrees to comply with this Section 609 with respect to such
successor business trust or other permitted successor.
SECTION 610. Rights of Holders of Preferred Securities.
The Company agrees that, for so long as any Preferred Securities
remain outstanding, its obligations under this Indenture will also be for the
benefit of the holders from time to time of Preferred Securities, and the
Company acknowledges and agrees that if the Property Trustee fails to enforce
its rights with respect to the Securities or the related Trust Agreement, a
holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Company to enforce the Property Trustee's rights with respect to the
Securities or such Trust Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or
any other person or entity.
-34-
ARTICLE SEVEN
Satisfaction and Discharge
SECTION 701. Defeasance.
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, Government 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, 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 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 Government Obligations deposited in accordance with
this Section shall be held in trust, as provided in Section
703; and
(y) if Government Obligations shall have been deposited, an
Opinion of Counsel that the obligations so deposited
constitute Government 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
-35-
(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 Government 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 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 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.
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 Government
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.
-36-
The Company shall pay, and shall indemnify the Trustee or any
Paying Agent with which Government Obligations shall have been deposited as
provided in this Section against, any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or
assessed against such Government Obligations or the principal or interest
received in respect of such Government 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.
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
Government 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 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.
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.
-37-
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 Government Obligations held by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 703.
SECTION 703. Application of Trust Money.
Neither the Government Obligations nor the money deposited
pursuant to Section 701, nor the principal or interest payments on any such
Government 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 Government Obligations, if not then
needed for such purpose, shall, to the extent practicable, be invested in
Government 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 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
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, including any Additional
Interest, on any Security of such series within 30 days after the same
becomes due and payable (whether or not payment is prohibited by the
provisions of Article Fifteen hereof); provided, however, that a valid
extension of the interest payment period by the
-38-
Company as contemplated in Section 311 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 (whether or not payment is
prohibited by the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof); 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 60 days after there has been
given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee, or
to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 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 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
-39-
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.
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 of all Securities of such series and
interest accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately (provided that the
payment of principal and interest on such Securities shall remain subordinated
to the extent provided in Article Fifteen hereof). 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 (provided that the payment of
principal and interest on such Securities shall remain subordinated to the
extent provided in the Indenture).
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;
(2) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Securities
of such series which have become due otherwise than by such
declaration of
-40-
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
premium, if any, and 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.
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.
-41-
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 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.
-42-
SECTION 806. Application of Money Collected.
Subject to the provisions of Article Fifteen, 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.
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 not less than 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
-43-
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.
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 Section
307 and 311) 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. Any
holder of related Preferred Securities shall have the right to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment to such holder with respect to
Securities relating to such Preferred Securities having a principal amount equal
to the aggregate liquidation preference amount of the related Preferred
Securities held by 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.
-44-
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 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. 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;
provided, however, that so long as a Trust holds the Securities of any series,
such Trust may not waive any past default without the consent of at least a
majority in aggregate liquidation preference of the outstanding Preferred
Securities issued by such Trust affected, obtained as provided in the Trust
Agreement pertaining to such Trust.
-45-
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 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.
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.
-46-
(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 the Trustee under the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act.
(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 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, 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
-47-
prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an
Officer's Certificate;
(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 of
the default or Event of Default, as the case may be, or (2) written notice
of such default or Event of Default, as the case may be, shall have been
given to the Trustee by the Company, any other obligor on such Securities
or by any Holder of such Securities.
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.
-48-
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 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
-49-
misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of
any other Trustee hereunder.
In addition to the rights provided to the Trustee pursuant to the
provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph of this Section 907, 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.
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
interest arising from its capacity as trustee in respect of the Securities of
any other series. The Trust Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement pertaining to
each Trust shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Indenture for
the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act.
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,
-50-
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.
(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; provided that so long as any Preferred
Securities remain outstanding, the Trust which issued such Preferred
Securities shall not execute any Act to remove the Trustee without the
consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation preference
of Preferred Securities issued by such Trust outstanding, obtained as
provided in the Trust Agreement pertaining to such Trust.
(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
-51-
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
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 resignation, appointment and
acceptance except to the extent inconsistent with this subsection (f).
(g) 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
-52-
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 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.
-53-
(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 corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any
merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or
any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust
business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder,
provided such corporation 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
-54-
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
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;
(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
-55-
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, which shall be authorized to
act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series 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 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.
-56-
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 Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time
to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, in accordance
with, and subject to the provisions of Section 907.
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 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.
------------------------
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
-57-
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 June 1 and December 1 in each year,
commencing June 1, 1996, 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; 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 November 1 in each year, commencing November 1,
1996, the Trustee shall transmit to the Holders and the Commission a report,
dated as of the next preceding September 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 and the Commission, 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.
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
corporation, or convey or otherwise transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless
(a) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which
the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or
transfer, or which leases,
-58-
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 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 Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger by the
Company into any other corporation 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 corporation 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 covenants of the Company
herein and in the Securities, all as provided in Article Eleven; or
-59-
(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 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 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
only pursuant to the provisions of Section 1202 hereof or when no Security
of such series 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 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 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
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 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
shall be payable, (2) all or any series of Securities may be surrendered
for registration of transfer, (3) all or any series of Securities may be
surrendered for exchange and (4) notices and demands to or upon the
Company in respect of all or any series of Securities and this Indenture
may be served; or
-60-
(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
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 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 not less than 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
-61-
all series 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 (except as provided in Section
311 hereof), 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 change the coin or
currency (or other property), in which any Security or any premium or 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, if applicable, in liquidation preference of
any series of Preferred Securities), 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
(c) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 607 or
Section 813 with respect to the Securities of any series, 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) and 1201(h).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any of the Preferred Securities remain
outstanding, the Trustee may not consent to a supplemental indenture under this
Section 1202 without the prior consent, obtained as provided in a Trust
Agreement pertaining to a Trust which issued such Preferred Securities, of the
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation preference of all
Preferred Securities issued by such Trust affected, considered as one class, or,
in the case of changes described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, 100% in
aggregate liquidation preference of all such Preferred Securities then
outstanding which would be affected thereby, considered as one class. 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 which modifies the
rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant
or other
-62-
provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the
Holders of Securities of any other series.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
-63-
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
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.
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 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 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 by the Company or
by the Holders of 33% in aggregate principal amount of all of such series,
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 in the amount
above specified,
-64-
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 shall be valid without notice if the Holders of all Outstanding
Securities of such series 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 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 a Person shall be (a) a Holder of one or more
Outstanding Securities of such series, 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 by such Holder or Holders. The only
Persons who shall be entitled to attend any meeting of Holders of Securities of
any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their
counsel, any 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 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; 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, considered as one class, the Persons
entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, 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, 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 which shall
constitute a quorum.
-65-
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 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, 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, 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 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 as provided in Section 1302(b), in
which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series 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
-66-
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of
all series 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 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 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 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.
-67-
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, 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, stockholder, 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, stockholder, 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.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
Subordination of Securities
SECTION 1501. Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness.
The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants
and agrees, and each Holder of the Securities of each series, by its acceptance
thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on each and all of the Securities is
hereby expressly subordinated and subject to the extent and in the manner set
forth in this Article, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
Senior Indebtedness.
Each Holder of the Securities of each series, by its acceptance
thereof, authorizes and directs the Trustee on its behalf to take such action as
may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in
this Article, and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-fact for any and all such
purposes.
-68-
SECTION 1502. Payment Over of Proceeds of Securities
In the event (a) of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or
any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in
respect of the Company or a substantial part of its property, or of any
proceedings for liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company,
whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (b) subject to the
provisions of Section 1503, that (i) a default shall have occurred with respect
to the payment of principal of or interest on or other monetary amounts due and
payable on any Senior Indebtedness, or (ii) there shall have occurred a default
(other than a default in the payment of principal or interest or other monetary
amounts due and payable) in respect of any Senior Indebtedness, as defined
therein or in the instrument under which the same is outstanding, permitting the
holder or holders thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof (with notice or
lapse of time, or both), and such default shall have continued beyond the period
of grace, if any, in respect thereof, and, in the cases of subclauses (i) and
(ii) of this clause (b), such default shall not have been cured or waived or
shall not have ceased to exist, or (c) that the principal of and accrued
interest on the Securities of any series shall have been declared due and
payable pursuant to Section 801 and such declaration shall not have been
rescinded and annulled as provided in Section 802, then:
(1) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be
entitled to receive payment of the full amount due thereon, or
provision shall be made for such payment in money or money's
worth, before the Holders of any of the Securities are
entitled to receive a payment on account of the principal of
or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities,
including, without limitation, any payments made pursuant to
Articles Four and Five;
(2) any payment by, or distribution of assets of, the
Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or
securities, to which any Holder or the Trustee would be
entitled except for the provisions of this Article, shall be
paid or delivered by the person making such payment or
distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or
liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of
such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or
representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such
Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to
the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of such
Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent
necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness
remaining unpaid after giving effect to any concurrent payment
or distribution (or provision therefor) to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is
made to the Holders of the indebtedness evidenced by the
Securities or to the Trustee under this Indenture; and
-69-
(3) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any
payment by, or distribution of assets of, the Company of any
kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, in
respect of principal of or interest on the Securities or in
connection with any repurchase by the Company of the
Securities, shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder
before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision
is made for such payment in money or money's worth, such
payment or distribution in respect of principal of or interest
on the Securities or in connection with any repurchase by the
Company of the Securities shall be paid over to the holders of
such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or
representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture under which any instruments evidencing any such
Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as
aforesaid, for application to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior
Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect
to any concurrent payment or distribution (or provision
therefor) to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the 123rd day
following the date of deposit of cash or Government Obligations pursuant to
Section 701 (provided all conditions set out in such Section shall have been
satisfied), the funds so deposited and any interest thereon will not be subject
to any rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness including, without limitation,
those arising under this Article Fifteen; provided that no event described in
clauses (d) and (e) of Section 801 with respect to the Company has occurred
during such 123-day period.
For purposes of this Article only, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan or reorganization or readjustment which are subordinate
in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness which may at the time be
outstanding to the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities
are so subordinated as provided in this Article. The consolidation of the
Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer
of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another
corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article Eleven hereof
shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for
the purposes of this Section 1502 if such other corporation shall, as a part of
such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions
stated in Article Eleven hereof. Nothing in Section 1501 or in this Section 1502
shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to
Section 907.
-70-
SECTION 1503. Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior Indebtedness.
Any failure by the Company to make any payment on or perform any
other obligation in respect of Senior Indebtedness, other than any indebtedness
incurred by the Company or assumed or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the
Company for money borrowed (or any deferral, renewal, extension or refunding
thereof) or any other obligation as to which the provisions of this Section
shall have been waived by the Company in the instrument or instruments by which
the Company incurred, assumed, guaranteed or otherwise created such indebtedness
or obligation, shall not be deemed a default under clause (b) of Section 1502 if
(i) the Company shall be disputing its obligation to make such payment or
perform such obligation and (ii) either (A) no final judgment relating to such
dispute shall have been issued against the Company which is in full force and
effect and is not subject to further review, including a judgment that has
become final by reason of the expiration of the time within which a party may
seek further appeal or review, or (B) in the event that a judgment that is
subject to further review or appeal has been issued, the Company shall in good
faith be prosecuting an appeal or other proceeding for review and a stay or
execution shall have been obtained pending such appeal or review.
SECTION 1504. Subrogation.
Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have been paid in full
unless the holders thereof shall have received cash (or securities or other
property satisfactory to such holders) in full payment of such Senior
Indebtedness then outstanding. Subject to the prior payment in full of all
Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the Holders of the Securities shall be
subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive any
further payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company
applicable to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on
the Securities shall be paid in full; and such payments or distributions of
cash, property or securities received by the Holders of the Securities, by
reason of such subrogation, which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors
other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders, be deemed to be
a payment by the Company to or on account of Senior Indebtedness, it being
understood that the provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for
the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and
the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.
SECTION 1505. Obligation of the Company Unconditional.
Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture
or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its
creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders, the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the
Holders the principal of and interest on the Securities as and when the same
shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to
or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of the Company
other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or
therein prevent the Trustee or any Holder from exercising all remedies otherwise
permitted by applicable law
-71-
upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this
Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or
securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the
Company referred to in this Article, the Trustee and the Holders shall be
entitled to rely upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction
in which such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings
are pending for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate
in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other
indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount
or amounts paid or distributed thereon, and all other facts pertinent thereto or
to this Article.
SECTION 1506. Priority of Senior Indebtedness Upon Maturity.
Upon the maturity of the principal of any Senior Indebtedness by
lapse of time, acceleration or otherwise, all matured principal of Senior
Indebtedness and interest and premium, if any, thereon shall first be paid in
full before any payment of principal or premium, if any, or interest, if any, is
made upon the Securities or before any Securities can be acquired by the Company
or any sinking fund payment is made with respect to the Securities (except that
required sinking fund payments may be reduced by Securities acquired before such
maturity of such Senior Indebtedness).
SECTION 1507. Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee shall be entitled to all rights set forth in this
Article with respect to any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the
same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Article
shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
SECTION 1508. Notice to Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other
provision of the Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of
the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of
moneys to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received
written notice thereof from the Company, from a Holder or from a holder of any
Senior Indebtedness or from any representative or representatives of such holder
and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be
entitled, subject to Section 901, in all respects to assume that no such facts
exist; provided, however, that, if prior to the fifth Business Day preceding the
date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys may become payable for any
purpose, or in the event of the execution of an instrument pursuant to Section
702 acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, then if prior to
the second Business Day preceding the date of such execution, the Trustee shall
not have received with respect to such moneys the notice provided for in this
Section, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Trustee may, in its discretion, receive such moneys and/or apply the same to the
purpose for which they were
-72-
received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, which may be
received by it on or after such date; provided, however, that no such
application shall affect the obligations under this Article of the persons
receiving such moneys from the Trustee.
SECTION 1509. Modification, Extension, etc. of Senior Indebtedness
The holders of Senior Indebtedness may, without affecting in any
manner the subordination of the payment of the principal of and premium, if any,
and interest, if any, on the Securities, at any time or from time to time and in
their absolute discretion, agree with the Company to change the manner, place or
terms of payment, change or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter,
any Senior Indebtedness, or amend or supplement any instrument pursuant to which
any Senior Indebtedness is issued, or exercise or refrain from exercising any
other of their rights under the Senior Indebtedness including, without
limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, all without notice to or assent
from the Holders or the Trustee.
SECTION 1510. Trustee Has No Fiduciary Duty to Holders of Senior
Indebtedness.
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee
undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and objectives as
are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or
obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read
into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe
any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and shall not be
liable to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or deliver to the
Holders or the Company or any other Person, money or assets to which any holders
of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.
SECTION 1511. Paying Agents Other Than the Trustee.
In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall
have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term
"Trustee" as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context shall
otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent
within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent
were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided,
however, that Sections 1507, 1508 and 1510 shall not apply to the Company if it
acts as Paying Agent.
SECTION 1512. Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired.
No right of any present or future holder of Senior Indebtedness
to enforce the subordination herein shall at any time or in any way be
prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company
or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants
of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have
or be otherwise charged with.
-73-
SECTION 1513. Effect of Subordination Provisions; Termination
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, other
than as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence, all the provisions of
this Indenture shall be subject to the provisions of this Article, so far as the
same may be applicable thereto.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the
provisions of this Article Fifteen shall be of no further effect, and the
Securities shall no longer be subordinated in right of payment to the prior
payment of Senior Indebtedness, if the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee a notice to such effect. Any such notice delivered by the Company shall
not be deemed to be a supplemental indenture for purposes of Article Twelve.
-------------------------
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.
-74-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture
to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
By: James Vizanko
-------------------------------
James K. Vizanko
Treasurer
-75-
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, Trustee
By: Helen M. Cotiaux
-------------------------------
-76-
STATE OF MINNESOTA )
) ss.:
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS )
On the 20th day of March, 1996, before me personally came
James K. Vizanko, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that he is the Treasurer of Minnesota Power & Light Company, one of the
corporations described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that he
knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is
such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of
Directors of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like
authority.
Kristie J. Lindstrom
----------------------------------
Kristie Lindstrom
Notary Public, State of Minnesota
St. Louis County
My. Comm. Expires [ ] 31, 2000
-77-
STATE OF NEW YORK )
) ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
On the 19th day of March, 1996, before me personally came
Helen Cotiaux, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that
he is a Vice President of The Bank of New York, one of the corporations
described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal
of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate
seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said
corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.
Susan Fields
----------------------------------
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 31-4980055
Qualified in New York County
Commission Expires April 8, 1997