EXHIBIT 4.02
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NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY,
AS ISSUER
TO
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS TRUSTEE
---------------------
INDENTURE
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
DATED AS OF _____________, 1997
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NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
AND INDENTURE, DATED AS OF ____________, 199_
TRUST INDENTURE SECTION INDENTURE
ACT SECTION
Section 310(a)(1)..................................................609
(a)(2)..................................................609
(a)(3)..................................................Not
Applicable
(a)(4)..................................................Not
Applicable
(b).....................................................608, 610
Section 311(a).....................................................613
(b).....................................................613
Section 312(a).....................................................701, 702(a)
(b).....................................................702(b)
(c).....................................................702(c)
Section 313(a).....................................................703(a)
(b).....................................................Not
Applicable
(c).....................................................703(a)
(d).....................................................703(b)
Section 314(a).....................................................704
(b).....................................................Not
Applicable
(c)(1)..................................................102
(c)(2)..................................................102
(c)(3)..................................................Not
Applicable
(d).....................................................Not
Applicable
(e).....................................................102
Section 315(a).....................................................601(a)
(b).....................................................602
(c).....................................................601(b)
(d).....................................................601(c)
(d)(1)..................................................601(a)
(d)(2)..................................................601(c)
(d)(3)..................................................601(c)
(e).....................................................514
Section 316(a)(1)(A)...............................................512
(a)(1)(B)...............................................502, 513
(a)(2)..................................................Not
Applicable
(b).....................................................508
Section 317(a)(1)..................................................503
(a)(2)..................................................504
(b).....................................................1009
Section 318(a).....................................................107
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NOTE: THIS RECONCILIATION AND TIE SHALL NOT, FOR ANY PURPOSE, BE DEEMED TO BE A
PART OF THIS INDENTURE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY...................................................1
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION.......1
SECTION 101...Definitions..................................................1
Act....................................................................2
Affiliate..............................................................2
Authenticating Agent...................................................2
Bankruptcy Law.........................................................2
Board of Directors.....................................................2
Board Resolution.......................................................2
Business Day...........................................................2
Capitalized Lease Obligation...........................................2
Capital Stock..........................................................2
Commission.............................................................2
Common Depositary......................................................3
Company................................................................3
Company Request" or "Company Order.....................................3
Corporate Trust Office.................................................3
Covenant Defeasance....................................................3
Custodian..............................................................3
Default................................................................3
Defaulted Interest.....................................................3
Defeasance.............................................................3
Dollars" and "$........................................................3
Event of Default.......................................................3
Exchange Act...........................................................3
GAAP...................................................................3
Holder or Securityholder...............................................3
Indebtedness...........................................................3
Indenture..............................................................4
Interest...............................................................4
Interest Payment Date..................................................4
Lien...................................................................4
Maturity...............................................................4
Officer................................................................4
Officer's Certificate..................................................5
Opinion of Counsel.....................................................5
Original Issue Discount Security.......................................5
i
Outstanding............................................................5
Paying Agent...........................................................6
Person.................................................................6
Place of Payment.......................................................6
Redemption Date........................................................6
Redemption Price.......................................................6
Registered Security....................................................6
Regular Record Date....................................................6
Responsible Officer....................................................6
Securities.............................................................6
Security Register" and "Security Registrar.............................6
Senior Indebtedness....................................................6
Significant Subsidiary.................................................7
Special Record Date....................................................7
Stated Maturity........................................................7
Subsidiary.............................................................7
Trust Indenture Act....................................................7
Trustee................................................................7
U.S. Depositary........................................................7
U.S. Government Obligations............................................8
Utility................................................................8
Vice President.........................................................8
SECTION 102...Compliance Certificates and Opinions.........................8
SECTION 103...Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.......................9
SECTION 104...Acts of Holders..............................................9
SECTION 105...Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.......................10
SECTION 106...Notice to Holders; Waiver...................................11
SECTION 107...Conflict with Trust Indenture Act...........................11
SECTION 108...Effect of Headings and Table of Contents....................11
SECTION 109...Successors and Assigns......................................12
SECTION 110...Separability Clause.........................................12
SECTION 111...Benefits of Indenture.......................................12
SECTION 112...Governing Law...............................................12
SECTION 113...Legal Holidays..............................................12
SECTION 114...No Recourse Against Others..................................12
ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS................................................13
SECTION 201...Forms Generally.............................................13
SECTION 202...Form of Face of Security....................................13
SECTION 203...Form of Reverse of Security.................................15
SECTION 204...Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.............21
SECTION 205...Securities in Global Form...................................21
SECTION 206...CUSIP Number................................................22
SECTION 207...Form of Legend for the Securities in Global Form............22
ii
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES.............................................22
SECTION 301...Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series........................22
SECTION 302...Denominations...............................................24
SECTION 303...Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating..............25
SECTION 304...Temporary Securities........................................26
SECTION 305...Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.........27
SECTION 306...Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities............29
SECTION 307...Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved..............30
SECTION 308...Persons Deemed Owners.......................................31
SECTION 309...Cancellation................................................31
SECTION 310...Computation of Interest.....................................32
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE..................................32
SECTION 401...Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.....................32
SECTION 402...Application of Trust Money..................................33
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES....................................................33
SECTION 501...Events of Default...........................................33
SECTION 502...Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment..........35
SECTION 503...Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement
by Trustee..................................................36
SECTION 504...Trustee May File Proofs of Claim............................37
SECTION 505...Trustee May Enforce Claims With Possession of Securities....37
SECTION 506...Application of Money Collected..............................38
SECTION 507...Limitation on Suits.........................................38
SECTION 508...Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
Premium and Interest........................................39
SECTION 509...Restoration of Rights and Remedies..........................39
SECTION 510...Rights and Remedies Cumulative..............................39
SECTION 511...Delay or Omission Not Waiver................................39
SECTION 512...Control by Holders..........................................40
SECTION 513...Waiver of Past Defaults.....................................40
SECTION 514...Undertaking for Costs.......................................40
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE..................................................41
SECTION 601...Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee..........41
SECTION 602...Notice of Defaults..........................................41
SECTION 603...Certain Rights of Trustee...................................41
SECTION 604...Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities......43
SECTION 605...May Hold Securities.........................................43
SECTION 606...Money Held in Trust.........................................43
SECTION 607...Compensation and Reimbursement..............................43
SECTION 608...Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.....................44
iii
SECTION 609...Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.....................44
SECTION 610...Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor...........44
SECTION 611...Acceptance of Appointment by Successor......................46
SECTION 612...Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession
to Business.................................................47
SECTION 613...Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company...........47
SECTION 614...Appointment of Authenticating Agent.........................47
ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY..........50
SECTION 701...Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses
of Holders..................................................50
SECTION 702...Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders......50
SECTION 703...Reports by Trustee..........................................51
SECTION 704...Reports by Company..........................................51
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, LEASE, SALE OR TRANSFER.............52
SECTION 801...When Company May Merge, Etc.................................52
SECTION 802...Opinion of Counsel..........................................53
SECTION 803...Successor Corporation Substituted...........................53
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.....................................54
SECTION 901...Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.............54
SECTION 902...Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.............55
SECTION 903...Execution of Supplemental Indentures........................56
SECTION 904...Effect of Supplemental Indentures...........................56
SECTION 905...Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.........................56
SECTION 906...Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures..........56
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS....................................................57
SECTION 1001..Payments of Securities......................................57
SECTION 1002..Maintenance of Office or Agency.............................57
SECTION 1003..Corporate Existence.........................................57
SECTION 1004..Payment of Taxes and Other Claims...........................58
SECTION 1005..Maintenance of Properties...................................58
SECTION 1006..Compliance Certificates.....................................58
SECTION 1007..Commission Reports..........................................59
SECTION 1008..Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.....................60
SECTION 1009..Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust...........60
ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES..................................61
SECTION 1101..Applicability of Article....................................61
SECTION 1102..Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.......................62
iv
SECTION 1103..Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed...........62
SECTION 1104..Notice of Redemption........................................62
SECTION 1105..Deposit of Redemption Price.................................63
SECTION 1106..Securities Payable on Redemption Date.......................63
SECTION 1107..Securities Redeemed in Part.................................64
ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS.............................................64
SECTION 1201..Applicability of Article....................................64
SECTION 1202..Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.......65
SECTION 1203..Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund...................65
ARTICLE THIRTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE......................65
SECTION 1301..Applicability of Article; Company's Option to
Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance....................65
SECTION 1302..Defeasance and Discharge....................................66
SECTION 1303..Covenant Defeasance.........................................66
SECTION 1304..Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.............66
SECTION 1305..Deposited Money and Government Obligations To Be Held
In Trust....................................................68
ARTICLE FOURTEEN SUBORDINATION...........................................69
SECTION 1401..Agreement of Securityholders that Securities
Subordinated to Extent Provide..............................69
SECTION 1402..Company not to Make Payments with Respect to
Securities in Certain Circumstances.........................69
SECTION 1403..Securities Subordinated to Prior Payment of all Senior
Indebtedness on Dissolution, Liquidation or
Reorganization of Company...................................70
SECTION 1404..Securityholders to be Subrogated to Right of Holders
of Senior Indebtedness......................................71
SECTION 1405..Obligation of the Company Unconditional.....................71
SECTION 1406..Trustee Entitled to Assume Payments Not Prohibited
in Absence of Notice........................................71
SECTION 1407..Application by Trustee of Monies Deposited With It..........72
SECTION 1408..Subordination Rights not Impaired by Acts or
Omissions of Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness......72
SECTION 1409..Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate
Subordination of Securities................................72
SECTION 1410..Right of Trustee to Hold Senior Indebtedness................73
SECTION 1411..Article Fourteen Not to Prevent Events of Default...........73
ARTICLE FIFTEEN MISCELLANEOUS............................................73
SECTION 1501..Miscellaneous...............................................73
v
INDENTURE, dated as of ______________, _, between NORTHERN STATES POWER
COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Minnesota (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office
at 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, and NORWEST BANK
MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Trustee
(herein called the "Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the
"Securities"), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture
provided.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
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
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 other terms used herein 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 GAAP;
(d) the word "Including" (and with correlative meaning "Include") means
including, with limiting the generality of, any description preceding such
term; and
(e) 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 Six, are defined in that
Article.
"Act," when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in
Section 104.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
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 authorized by the Trustee to act
on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or
state law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Company;
provided, however, that when the context refers to actions or resolutions of
the Board of Directors, then the term "Board of Directors" shall also mean
any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Company or
Officer authorized to act with respect to any particular matter to exercise
the power of the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted
by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of
such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day" when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by
law or regulation to close.
"Capitalized Lease Obligation" means an obligation under a lease that is
required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance
with GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation
shall be the capitalized amount of such obligations determined in accordance
with such principles.
"Capital Stock" of any Person shall mean any and all shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated)
equity of such Person, including any preferred stock, but excluding any debt
securities convertible into such equity.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time
to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after
the execution of this
2
instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now
assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such
duties at such time.
"Common Depositary" has the meaning specified in Section 304.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph
of this Indenture until a successor corporation shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Company" shall mean such successor corporation.
"Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order
signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President
or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its
Controller, an Assistant Controller, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
and delivered to the Trustee.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee in Minneapolis,
Minnesota at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall
be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at
Sixth and Marquette, Minneapolis, Minnesota 54479-0069.
"Covenant Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1303.
"Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator,
sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
"Default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or
both would be, an Event of Default.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.
"Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1302.
"Dollars" and "$" means lawful money of the United States of America.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"GAAP" means such accounting principles that are generally accepted in
the United States of America as of the date of any computation required
hereunder.
"Holder or Securityholder" means a Person in whose name a Security is
registered in the Security Register.
"Indebtedness" of any Person means, with duplication, (i) the principal
of and premium, if any, in respect of (A) indebtedness of such Person for
money borrowed and (B)
3
indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar
instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable;
(ii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (iii) all obligations
of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property,
all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title
retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the
ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of such Person for the
reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance or
similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of
credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in (i) through
(iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person
to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the
extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third
Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement
following payment on the letter of credit); (v) all obligations of the type
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of other Persons and all dividends of
other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is
responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all
obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of other
Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether
or not such obligation is assumed by such Person), the amount of such
obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or
assets or the amount of the obligation so secured.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof
and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as
contemplated by Section 301.
"Interest," when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security
which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable
after Maturity.
"Interest Payment Date," when used with respect to any Security, means
the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
"Lien" means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference,
priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind
or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, the interest of a vendor
or lessor under any conditional sale, capitalized lease or other title
retention agreement).
"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 therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity
or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
"Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer,
the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer,
the Controller, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
4
"Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by an officer and
delivered to the Trustee.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an
employee of or counsel for the Company, and who shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee.
"Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides for
an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.
"Outstanding," when used with respect to Securities or Securities of any
series, means, as of the date of determination, all such Securities
theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption
money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the
Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside
and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own
Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such
Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly
given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the
Trustee has been made;
(iii) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in
exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated
and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in
respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof
satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser
in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and
(iv) Securities which have been defeased pursuant to Section 1302;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (a) the
principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed
to be outstanding for such purposes shall be that portion of the principal
amount thereof that could be declared to be due and payable upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default and the continuation thereof pursuant to
the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security as of the date of such
determination and (b) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor
upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor
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, only
Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
5
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.
"Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of
the Company. The Company may act as Paying Agent with respect to any
Securities issued hereunder.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Place of Payment," when used with respect to the Securities of any
series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified
as contemplated by Section 301.
"Redemption Date," when used with respect to any Security of any series
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 of any series
to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to
this Indenture.
"Registered Security" means any Security issued hereunder and registered
in the Security Register.
"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 in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, with
respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom
such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.
"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, with respect to the Company, Indebtedness of
the Company, except for (1) any such Indebtedness that is by its terms
subordinated to or pari passu with the Securities and (2) any Indebtedness
(including all other debt securities and guarantees in respect of those debt
securities) initially issued to any other trust, or a trustee of such trust,
6
partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or
indirectly, a financing vehicle of the Company in connection with the
issuance by such entity of preferred securities or other similar securities.
"Significant Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the
Company possessing assets (including the assets of its own Subsidiaries but
without regard to the Company or any other Subsidiary) having a book value, in
the aggregate, equal to not less than 10% of the book value of the aggregate
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means the
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
"Stated Maturity," when used with respect to any Security or any
installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date
specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such
Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
"Subsidiary" of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the
outstanding securities having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time
be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or
more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or (ii) any partnership, association, joint venture or similar
business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having
ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled.
Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a "Subsidiary"
shall mean a Subsidiary of the Company.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided,
however, that in the event that such Act is amended after such date, "Trust
Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph
of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such 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.
"U.S. Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any series
issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more permanent
global Securities, the Person designated as U.S. Depositary by the Company
pursuant to Section 301, which must be a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act until a successor U.S. Depositary shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "U.S.
Depositary" shall mean or include each Person who is then a U.S. Depositary
hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, "U.S.
Depositary" shall mean the U.S. Depositary with respect to the Securities of
that series.
7
"U.S. Government Obligations" means securities which are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full
faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States
of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by the
full faith and credit of the United States of America which, in either case,
are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof or
otherwise subject to prepayment, and shall also include a depository receipt
issued by a New York Clearing House bank or trust company as custodian with
respect to any such U.S. Government obligation or a specific payment or
interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such
custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided
that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any
deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt or
from any amount held by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government
Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S.
Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
"Utility" shall mean any Subsidiary of the Company engaged in the
business of generating, transmitting or distributing electricity, or
distributing natural gas at retail.
"Vice President," when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee,
means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or
words added before or after the title "vice president".
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any
action under any provision of this Indenture, other than an action permitted
by Sections 205 and 704 hereof, the Company shall 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 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 individual 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 individual, he has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to
express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual,
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 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 his certificate or
opinion is 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.
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be 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 agents
duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly
provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or
instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly
required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action
embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as
the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of
execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent
shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section
601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the
manner provided in this Section.
9
(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.
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. The fact and date of the execution of any
such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the
same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems
sufficient.
(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the
Security Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future
Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the
registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof
in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or
the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is
made upon such Security.
(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company
may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, 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 such record date shall be
deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the
requisite proportion of 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 such record date; provided that no such authorization,
agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed
effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, 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,
(a) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for
every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or
with the Trustee and received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office,
Attention: ______________________, or
(b) 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 mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to
it at the address of its principal office specified in
10
the first paragraph of this Indenture, attention: Secretary, or at any other
address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice to Holders of
any event, such notice shall be deemed sufficiently given (unless otherwise
herein or in such Security expressly provided) if in writing and mailed,
first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his
address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest
date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of
such notice. 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 or the validity of the proceedings to which such
notice relates. Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice in
any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to
receive such notice, either before or after the event, 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.
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 by mail,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee
shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver
required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language,
except that any published notice may be in an official language of the
country of publication.
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another
provision hereof which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of
the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall
control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any
provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the
latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or
shall be excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
11
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind
its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 110. Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in 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 in the Securities, express or implied, shall
give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors
hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Indenture.
SECTION 112. Governing Law.
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws (other than the choice of law provisions) of the
State of Minnesota.
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) 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, or on such other day as may be set in an indenture
supplemental hereto or in the Officer's Certificate delivered pursuant to
Section 301, at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if
made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated
Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and
after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the
case may be.
SECTION 114. No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company
shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the
Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by
reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder, by
accepting a Security, waives and releases all such liability. Such waivers
and releases are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.
12
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS
SECTION 201. Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set
forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or
pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental
hereto, 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
of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a
Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and
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.
The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially
the form set forth in this Article.
The definitive Securities shall be photocopied, printed, lithographed or
engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner,
all as determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by
their execution of such Securities.
SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security.
[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert--FOR
PURPOSES OF SECTION 1272 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE
"CODE"), THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (AS DEFINED IN SECTION
1273(a)(1) OF THE CODE AND TREASURY REGULATION SECTION 1.1273-1(a) WITH RESPECT
TO THIS SECURITY IS ________, THE ISSUE PRICE (AS DEFINED IN TREASURY
REGULATION SECTION 1.1273-2) OF THIS SECURITY IS _________, THE ISSUE DATE (AS
DEFINED IN SECTION 1275(a)(2) OF THE CODE AND TREASURY REGULATION SECTION
1.1273-2) OF THIS SECURITY IS __________ AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THIS
SECURITY IS __________.]
NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
(a Minnesota corporation)
.............................
No. ___________ [$ ] ________
NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of Minnesota (herein called the "Company," which term includes
any successor
13
corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received,
hereby promises to pay to ____________, or registered assigns, the principal
sum of ______________ [Dollars] on ____________ [If the Security is to bear
interest prior to Maturity, insert--, and to pay interest thereon
from ____________ or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, [semi-annually]
[quarterly][monthly] on ____ and ____ in each year, commencing
__________________ at the rate of __________% per annum, until the principal
hereof is paid or made available for payment. [If applicable insert--, and (to
the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at
the rate of _________% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on
any overdue installment of interest]. The interest so payable, and punctually
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in
such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the ___________
of __________ (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next
preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid
or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this
Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest
to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of
Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record
Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with
the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this
series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange,
all as more fully provided in said Indenture].
[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert--The
principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a
default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated
Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear
interest at the rate of ______% per annum (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date
of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made
or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on
demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on
demand shall bear interest at the rate of ______% per annum (to the extent
that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall
accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such
interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be
payable on demand.]
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable,
insert--any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency
of the Company maintained for that purpose in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in Dollars
[if applicable, insert--; provided, however, that at the option of the Company
payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person
entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register].
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
14
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
By:___________________________________
Attest:
_______________________________ (SEAL)
SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security.
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of _______________, 199_ (herein called the
"Indenture"), between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National
Association, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any
successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective
rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company,
the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the
Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is
one of the series designated on the face hereof [, limited in aggregate
principal amount to $_________].
[If applicable, insert--The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 45 days' notice by first class
mail, [if applicable, insert--(l) on ________ in any year commencing with the
year ______ and ending with the year ______ through operation of the sinking
fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal
amount, and (2)] at any time [on or after __________, _________], as a whole or
in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices
(expressed as percentages of the principal amount):
If redeemed [on or before __________, _____%, and if redeemed] during the
12-month period beginning __________ of the years indicated,
15
Redemption Redemption
Year Price Year Price
---- ----- ---- -----
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to ___% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert -- (whether
through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued and unpaid
interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated
Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders
of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the
close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof,
all as provided in the Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 nor more than 45 days' notice by first class
mail, (1) on __________ in any year commencing with the year __________ and
ending with the year _______ through operation of the sinking fund for this
series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking
fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table
below, and (2) at any time [on or after __________], as a whole or in part, at
the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise
than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the
principal amount) set forth in the table below:
If redeemed during a 12-month period beginning __________ of the years
indicated.
Redemption Price
For Redemption Redemption Price for
Through Operation Redemption Otherwise
of the Than Through Operation
Year Sinking Fund of the Sinking Fund
---- ------------ -------------------
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to _% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption
Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such
Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or
more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to _____, redeem
any Securities of this series as contemplated by [clause (2) of] the preceding
paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the
application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost
to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial
practice) of less than ___% per annum.]
[The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on ________
in each year beginning with the year _____ and ending with the year ________ of
[not less than] $__________ [("mandatory sinking fund") and not more than
$__________] aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series.]
[Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the
16
Company otherwise than through [mandatory] sinking fund payments may be
credited against subsequent [mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise
required to be made-- in the [inverse] order in which they become due.]
[In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security
or Securities of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued
in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert -If any
Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due
and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.] [If
the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert -If an Event of
Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing,
an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and
payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such
amount shall be equal to--insert formula for determining the amount.] Upon
payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of
interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest (in each case to the
extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of
the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and
interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.
This Security is a general unsecured obligation of the Company and will be
subordinate in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness
of the Company.
[This Security is subject to Defeasance as described in the Indenture.]
The Indenture may be modified by the Company and the Trustee without consent
of any Holder with respect to certain matters as described in the Indenture.
In addition, the Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein
provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and
obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of
each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on
behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance
by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past
defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Security shall bind such Holder and all future
Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.
17
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register,
upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or
agency of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series,
of authorized denominations and for the same Stated Maturity and aggregate
principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of [$1,000] and any integral multiple thereof. As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth,
Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount
of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as
requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or
exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the
Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company to,
among other things, merge or consolidate with any other Person or sell, assign,
transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties or assets [If other
covenants are applicable pursuant to the provisions of Section 301, insert
here]. All such covenants and limitations are subject to a number of important
qualifications and exceptions. The Company must report periodically to the
Trustee on compliance with the covenants in the Indenture.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall
not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under this Security or
the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such
obligations or their creation. Each Holder, by accepting a Security, waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issuance of this Security.
[If applicable, insert -- Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures ("CUSIP"), the Company
has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities of this series as a
convenience to the Holders of the Securities of this series. No representation
is made as to the correctness or accuracy of such
18
numbers as printed on the Securities of this series and reliance may be
placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.]
All capitalized terms used in this Security with definition which are
defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture.
19
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Security, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and
transfer this Security to
______________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax I.D. number)
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint ___________________________________________________
agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may
substitute another to act for him.
Dated: ________________________ Your Signature:_________________________
(Sign exactly as your name
appears on the other side of
this Security)
Signature Guaranty:___________________________________________________
[Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor
institution" meeting the requirements of the Transfer Agent,
which requirements will include membership or participation in
STAMP or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be
determined by the Transfer Agent in addition to, or in
substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Exchange
Act.]
Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification
Number: __________________________________________
20
SECTION 204. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
Dated:__________________
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.
______________________________________
As Trustee
By ___________________________________
Authorized Signatory
SECTION 205. Securities in Global Form.
If Securities of a series are issuable in global form, as contemplated by
Section 301, then, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 302, any such
Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as
shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the
aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon
and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby
may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a
Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in
the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in
such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be
specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee
pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304. Subject to the provisions of Section
303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver
any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions
given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company
Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or
simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to
endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be
in writing but need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied
by an Opinion of Counsel.
The provisions of Section 309 shall apply to any Security represented by
a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the
Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form
together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102
and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the
reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 201 and 307, unless otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of, premium,
if any, and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made
to the Person or Persons specified therein.
21
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in
the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the
Company and the Trustee shall treat a Person as the Holder of such principal
amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security as
shall be specified in a written statement of the Holder of such permanent
global Security.
SECTION 206. CUSIP Number
The Company in issuing Securities of any series may use a "CUSIP" number,
and, if so, the Trustee may use the CUSIP number in notices of redemption or
exchange as a convenience to Holders of such series; provided, that any such
notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or
accuracy of the CUSIP number printed on the notice or on the Securities of such
series, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers
printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any
defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the
Trustee of any change in the CUSIP number of any series of Securities.
SECTION 207. Form of Legend for the Securities in Global Form.
Any Security in global form authenticated and delivered hereunder shall
bear a legend in substantially the following form:
"This Security is in global form within the meaning of the Indenture
hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Common Depositary
or a U.S. Depositary. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part
for Securities in certificated form, this Security may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Common Depositary or a U.S. Depositary or by a
nominee of the Common Depositary or a nominee of the U.S. Depositary as the
case may be."
ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series.
There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth
in an Officer's Certificate, or established in one or more indentures
supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall
distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);
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(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture
(except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the
series pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107);
(3) whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in
permanent global form with or with coupons and, if so, (i) whether
beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may
exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of
any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any
such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section
305, and (ii) the name of the Common Depositary (as defined in Section 304)
or the U.S. Depositary, as the case may be, with respect to any global
Security;
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the
series is payable;
(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall
bear interest, if any, 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 for the interest payable on any Interest
Payment Date and, if applicable to such series of Securities, the basis
points and United States Treasury rate(s) and any other rates to be used in
calculating the reset rate;
(6) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;
(7) the right of the Company, if any, to defer any payment of
principal of or interest on the Securities of the series, and the maximum
length of any such deferral period;
(8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which
and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, pursuant to
any sinking fund or otherwise;
(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase
Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods
within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions
upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in
whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and, where applicable, the
obligation of the Company to select the Securities to be redeemed;
(10) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be
issuable;
23
(11) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the
principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section
502;
(12) additional Events of Default with respect to Securities of the
series, if any, other than those set forth herein;
(13) if either or both of Section 1302 and Section 1303 shall be
inapplicable to the Securities of the series (provided that if no such
inapplicability shall be specified, then both Section 1302 and Section 1303
shall be applicable to the Securities of the series);
(14) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies or units
based on or related to currencies in which the Securities of such series
shall be denominated and in which payments of principal of, and any premium
and interest on, such Securities shall or may be payable; provided,
however, that prior to the issuance of any such Securities, the Company
shall have obtained the written consent of the Trustee, which consent may
be withheld in the sole discretion of the Trustee, to the currency,
currencies or currency units so established;
(15) additional covenants with respect to Securities of the series, if
any, other than those set forth herein;
(16) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the Registrar and any
Paying Agent; and
(17) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as
to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such
Board Resolution and set forth in such Officer's Certificate or in any such
Indenture supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant
to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer's
Certificate setting forth, or providing the manner for determining, the terms of
the Securities of such series.
SECTION 302. Denominations.
The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without
coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section
301. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of
any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of
$1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
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SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its President
or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon
attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of
any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. The seal of
the Company may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed,
affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. Typographical and
other minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of the seal or any such
signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that
has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who
were at any time the proper officers 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.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this
Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance
with the Company Order shall authenticate and make such Securities available for
delivery. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been
established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by
Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a)
through (d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying
upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,
(a) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to
Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been
established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant
to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been
established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee
and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified
in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except
to the extent enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by the effect of general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law); and
(d) that no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any court or any governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company is
25
required for the execution and delivery of such Securities by the Company,
except such as have been obtained (except that no opinion need be expressed
as to state securities or Blue Sky laws).
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be
required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will 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, or in the written opinion of
counsel to the Trustee (which counsel may be an employee of the Trustee) such
authentication may not lawfully be made or would involve the Trustee in personal
liability.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the immediately
preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally
issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer's
Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and
Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to the immediately preceding
paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such
series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon
original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.
If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 301 that the Securities
of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more global Securities, then
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section
and the Company Order with respect to the authentication and delivery of such
series, authenticate and deliver one or more global Securities that (i) shall be
in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount specified in such
Company Order, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Common Depositary or
U.S. Depositary, as the case may be, therefor or its nominee, and (iii) shall be
made available for delivery by the Trustee to such depositary or pursuant to
such depositary's instruction.
Each depositary designated pursuant to Section 301 must, at the time of its
designation and at all times while it serves as depositary, be a clearing agency
registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or
regulation.
Unless otherwise provided for in the form of Security, each Security shall
be dated the date of its authentication.
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 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.
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 make
available for delivery, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed,
typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise
26
produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the
definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and 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.
In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be
in global form, representing all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of
such series.
Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be
exchanged in accordance with the provisions of Section 305), if temporary
Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive
Securities of that series to be prepared with unreasonable delay. After the
preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities
of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series
upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or
agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to
the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary
Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor a like
principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized
denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, the temporary
Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same
benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued in global form, any such
temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be
delivered to the office of a depositary or common depositary (the "Common
Depositary") for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners
of such Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other
office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes
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 and of registration of transfers of Securities. The
Trustee is hereby appointed "Security Registrar" for the purpose of registering
Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series
at the office or agency of the Company in Place of Payment for that series, the
Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for
delivery, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more
new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like
aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity.
At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for
other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a
like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity, upon surrender of the
Securities to be exchanged at such office or
27
agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company
shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for
delivery, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to
receive.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be
exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the beneficial owners of
interests in a permanent global Security are entitled to exchange such
interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal
amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified and as
subject to the conditions contemplated by Section 301, then without unnecessary
delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such
interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee
definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to
the principal amount of such permanent global Security, executed by the
Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so
exchanged, such permanent global Securities shall be surrendered from time to
time by the Common Depositary or the U.S. Depositary, as the case may be, and
in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Common
Depositary or the U.S. Depositary, as the case may be (which instructions
shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 or be accompanied by
an opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Company Order with
respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company's agent for such purpose, to
be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same
series without charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for
delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered permanent global
Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the
same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of
such permanent global Security to be exchanged which shall be in the form of
the Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such exchanges may
occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the
day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series
selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of
business on the day of such mailing. Promptly following any such exchange in
part, such permanent global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to the
Common Depositary or the U.S. Depositary, as the case may be, or such other
Common Depositary or U.S. Depositary referred to above in accordance with the
written instructions of the Company referred to above. If a Security in the
form specified for such series is issued in exchange for any portion of a
permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency
where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the
opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment
Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at
such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or
Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, such interest or Defaulted Interest
will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for
payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Security in the form
specified for such series, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date
or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom
interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is
payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities shall be the 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.
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Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or
for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly
endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the
Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
Unless otherwise provided in the Securities to be transferred or exchanged,
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, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of
or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening
of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption
of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to
register the transfer of or exchange 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 (i) evidence
to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and
(ii) such security or indemnity as may be 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 has been acquired by a bona
fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such 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.
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
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
29
Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at
any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of
this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities
of that 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.
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.
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 relevant 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 (1) or (2) below:
(1) 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 Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which
shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the
Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid
on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and
at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of
money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such
Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
for such deposit 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 Section 307 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 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 his address 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 and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the
following Clause (2).
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(2) 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 Section 307, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by
the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, 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 owner of such Security
for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and
(subject to Section 307) interest 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.
None of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the
Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of a beneficial ownership
interest of a Security in global form, or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Security in global form,
nothing herein shall prevent the Company or the Trustee or any agent of the
Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy
or other authorization furnished by any Common Depositary (or its nominee),
as a Holder, with respect to such Security in global form or impair, as
between such Common Depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such
Security in global form, the operation of customary practices governing the
exercise of the right of such Common Depositary (or its nominee) as holder of
such Security in global form.
SECTION 309. Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver
to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and
delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner
whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by
the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange
for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly
permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities shall be held by the
31
Trustee and may be destroyed (and, if so destroyed, certification of their
destruction shall be delivered to the Company if requested in writing to do
so, unless, by a Company Order, the Company shall direct that cancelled
Securities be returned to it).
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 year of twelve 30-day months.
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any
surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein
expressly provided for or in the form of Security for such series), when the
Trustee, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture,
when
(1) either
(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i)
Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been
replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose
payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in
trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from
such trust, as provided in Section 1009) have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation; or
(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation
(i) have become due and payable, or
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one
year, or
(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption
by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,
and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited with the
Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and
discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered
to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and
32
premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of
Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or
Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate and
an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for
herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been
complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of
the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of
this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last
paragraph of Section 1009 shall survive.
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1009, all money
deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and
applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if
any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or
received by the Trustee.
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
SECTION 501. Events of Default.
"Event of Default," wherever used herein with respect to Securities of
any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for
such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or to
be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order
of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or
governmental body):
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Security of
that series when such interest becomes due and payable and the default
continues for a period of 30 days; provided, however that if the Company is
permitted by the terms of the Securities of the applicable series to defer
the payment in question, the date on which such payment is due and payable
shall be the date on which the Company is required to make payment following
such deferral, if such deferral has been elected pursuant to the terms of the
Securities; or
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(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium,
if any, on) any Security of that series when the same becomes due and payable
at Maturity, upon redemption (including redemptions under Article Eleven), or
otherwise; provided, however, that if the Company is permitted by the terms
of the Securities of the applicable series to defer the payment in question,
the date on which such payment is due and payable shall be the date on which
the Company is required to make payment following such deferral, if such
deferral has been elected pursuant to the terms of the Securities; or
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any of its other covenants,
warranties or agreements in the Securities of that series or this Indenture
(other than a covenant, agreement or warranty a default in whose performance
or whose breach 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 that series), and the failure to
observe or perform continues for the period and after the notice specified in
the last paragraph of this Section; or
(4) the Company defaults in the payment of any Indebtedness at the
maturity or acceleration thereof (after giving effect to any applicable grace
period) or upon the acceleration thereof as a result of such Indebtedness
becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it
would otherwise become due and payable, and such default in payment is not
cured or such acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled within 10 days
after written notice to the Company from the Trustee or to the Company and to
the Trustee from the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities of that series at the time outstanding; provided that it shall
not be an Event of Default if the principal amount of Indebtedness (other
than Indebtedness represented by Securities issued pursuant to this
Indenture) which is not paid at maturity or the maturity of which is
accelerated is less than the amount equal to 1% of the Company's consolidated
total assets (determined as of its most recent fiscal year-end); provided
further that if, prior to a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of
the Securities of that series or the entry of judgment in favor of the
Trustee in a suit pursuant to Section 503, such default shall be remedied or
cured by the Company or waived by the holders of such Indebtedness, then the
Event of Default hereunder by reason thereof shall be deemed likewise to have
been thereupon remedied, cured or waived without further action upon the part of
either the Trustee or any of the Holders of the Securities of that series,
and provided further, that, subject to Sections 601 and 602, the Trustee
shall not be charged with knowledge of any such default unless written notice
of such default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company, by a
holder or an agent of a holder of any such Indebtedness, by the trustee then
acting under any indenture or other instrument under which such default shall
have occurred, or by the Holders of at least five percent in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time outstanding; or
(5) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law
(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law with
respect to itself, (B) consents to the entry of a judgment, decree or order
for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law, (C) consents to or acquiesces in the institution of
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, (D) applies for, consents to
or acquiesces in the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian of
the Company or for any material part of
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its property, (E) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors
or (F) takes any corporate action in furtherance of or to facilitate,
conditionally or otherwise, any of the foregoing; or
(6) (i) a court of competent jurisdiction enters a judgment, decree or
order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law which shall (A) approve as properly filed
a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition in
respect of the Company, (B) appoint a Custodian of the Company or for any
material part of its property or (C) order the winding-up or liquidation of
its affairs, and such judgment, decree or order shall remain unstayed and in
effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (ii) any bankruptcy or
insolvency petition or application is filed, or any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceeding is commenced against the Company and such petition, application or
proceeding is not dismissed within 60 days; or (iii) a warrant of attachment
is issued against any material portion of the property of the Company which
is not released within 60 days of service; or
(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that
series.
A Default under clause (3) above is not an Event of Default until the
Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series notify the Company of the Default and the
Company does not cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice.
The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that
the notice is a "Notice of Default." When a Default under clause (3) above is
cured within such 60-day period, it ceases.
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series (other
than an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 501)
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice in writing to the Company, or
the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series by notice in writing to the Company and the
Trustee, may declare the unpaid principal of and accrued interest to the date
of acceleration (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue
Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified
in the terms of that series) on all the Outstanding Securities of that series
to be due and payable immediately and, upon any such declaration, the
Outstanding Securities of that series (or specified principal amount) shall
become and be immediately due and payable.
If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 501
occurs, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest on the Outstanding
Securities of that series (or specified principal amount) shall ipso facto
become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act
on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of any Security of that series.
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Upon payment of all such principal and interest, all of the Company's
obligations under the Securities of that series and (upon payment of the
Securities of all series) this Indenture shall terminate, except obligations
under Section 607.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of that series by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its
consequences if (i) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment
of the principal and interest of the Securities of that series that has
become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or
waived, (ii) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest
on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal that has become due
otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration have been paid, (iii) the
rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of
competent jurisdiction and (iv) all payments due to the Trustee and any
predecessor Trustee under Section 607 have been made.
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if:
(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security of any
series when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues
for a period of 30 days, or
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any,
on) any Security of any series at the Maturity thereof,
the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of
the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such
Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest and, to the
extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest
on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and on any overdue interest,
at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition
thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the reasonable
costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails 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 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 occurs
and is 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
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of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of
any power granted herein, or to secure any other proper remedy.
SECTION 504. 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,
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and
premium, if any) and interest 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 the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agent and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial
proceedings, and
(ii) 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 amount due it for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its
agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section
607.
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 505. 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 with 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 of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been
recovered.
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SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article in respect of
the Securities of any series 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, upon
presentation of the Securities in respect of which moneys 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 607
applicable to such series;
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of such series 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 of such series for principal (and premium, if any)
and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Holders pursuant to this Section 506. At least fifteen (15) days before such
record date, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder and the Company a notice that
states the record date, the payment date and the amount to be paid.
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any series 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:
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a
continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series 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;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and
offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
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(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to
the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders of Securities of
any series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by
availing himself 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 Holders of Securities of the affected series.
SECTION 508. 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)
interest 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 with the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 509. 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 has been discontinued
or abandoned for any reason, or has 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, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored
severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter
all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though
no such proceeding has been instituted.
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section
306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to
the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every
right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in
addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any
right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to
exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any
such right or remedy or
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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 512. Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any 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 that:
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with
this Indenture;
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee
which is not inconsistent with such direction; and
(3) subject to Section 601, the Trustee need not take any action which
might involve the Trustee in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the
Holders not joining therein.
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series may by written notice to the Trustee on
behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any Default
or Event of Default with respect to such series and its consequences, except
a Default or Event of Default
(1) in respect of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest on any Security of such series, or
(2) in respect of a covenant or other provision hereof which under Article
Nine cannot be modified or amended with the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Upon any such waiver, such Default or Event of Default shall cease to exist
and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture and
the Securities of such series; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security 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
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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
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit
instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal
of (or premium, if any) or interest 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).
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee.
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee's
duties and responsibilities under this Indenture shall be governed by Section
315(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and is
known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in
it by this Indenture, and shall use the same degree of care and skill in their
exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the
conduct of his own affairs.
(c) None of the provisions of Section 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act
shall be excluded from this Indenture.
SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults.
Within 30 days after the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default
with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give to all
Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in
the Security Register, notice of such Default or Event of Default known to
the Trustee, unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or
waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default or Event of
Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund
installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of
directors, the executive committee or directors or Responsible Officers of
the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in
the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series.
SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:
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(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution
of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall
deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence
be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
rely upon an Officer's Certificate;
(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 of
the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered
to the Trustee security or indemnity to its reasonable satisfaction against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with
such request or direction;
(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of any series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of
Default which may have occurred, 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, approval or other paper or document, or the books and records of the
Company, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series; provided, however,
that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs,
expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such
investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the
Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the
Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or
liabilities as a condition to so proceeding; the reasonable expense of every
such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee,
shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;
(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 required 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
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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.
SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee's
certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company,
and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their
correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any
Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the
Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 605. May Hold Securities.
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
608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would
have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security
Registrar or such other agent.
SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder (including amounts held by the
Trustee as Paying Agent) 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 otherwise agreed upon in writing
with the Company.
SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company agrees
(1) to 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);
(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
advances 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 any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad
faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability, damage, claim or expense, including taxes (other than
taxes based upon or determined or measured by the income of the Trustee),
incurred without gross negligence
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or bad faith on its part, arising of or in connection with the acceptance
or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the 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.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an
Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or Section 501(6), the expenses
(including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the
compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law.
The provisions of this Section 607 shall survive this Indenture.
SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
The Trustee shall be disqualified only where such disqualification is
required by Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Nothing shall prevent
the Trustee from filing with the Commission the application referred to in the
second to last paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to
act as Trustee under Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 subject to supervision or
examination by federal or State authority. If such corporation 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 corporation shall be deemed to
be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. Neither the Company nor any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company
may serve as Trustee. 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 610. 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 611.
(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 611 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
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of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of such series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the
Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee
and to the Company.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act after written request therefor by the Company or by any
Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six
months; or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and
shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by
any such Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security
for at least six months; 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, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the
Trust Indenture Act, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security
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,
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 611. 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 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee
appointed by the Company with respect to such Securities. 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 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of
a Security of such series for at least six months may,
45
on behalf of himself 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) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of
a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing
written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all
Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in the
Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate
Trust Office.
SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to all Securities, 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 its charges, execute and deliver an instrument
transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of
the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such
successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee
hereunder.
(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 shall duly assign,
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transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by
such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or
those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in
paragraph (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
the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 612. 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 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act,
excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to
Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated therein.
SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
At any time when any of the Securities remain outstanding the Trustee may
appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series
of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of, and subject to
the direction of, the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series
issued 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
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at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of
the United States of America, any State 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.
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 and shall mail
written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to
all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such
Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the
Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its
appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and
duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named
as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be
appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is 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 in the following form:
Form of Authenticating Agent's
Certificate of Authentication
48
Dated: ____________________
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
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ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually, not later than January 1 and July 1 in each year, a
list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Holders as of the preceding December 15 or June 15, as the
case may be; and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30
days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar
form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list
is furnished;
provided, however, that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, no
such list shall be required to be furnished.
SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and
addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as "applicants") apply in
writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each
such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months
preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the
applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights
under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the
form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit,
then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such
application, at its election, either
(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the
time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a); or
(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders
whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time
by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), and as to the approximate
cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication,
if any, specified in such application.
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If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such
information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants,
mail to each Holder whose name and address appears in the information
preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a) a copy
of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such
request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the
material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the
reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the
Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together
with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect
that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the
best interests of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law.
Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the
Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in
the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any
of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more
of such objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity
for hearing, that all objections so sustained have been met and shall enter
an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all
such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the
renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any
obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.
(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees
with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the
disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders
in accordance with Section 702(b), regardless of the source from which such
information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by
reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 702(b).
SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the year
1997, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities as
provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as
of May 15, if required by and in compliance with Section 313(a) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any
Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company
will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION 704. Reports by Company.
The Company shall:
(1) file with the Trustee, within 30 days after the Company is required
to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the
information, documents and
51
other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the
Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which
the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section
13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required
to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said
Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in
accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the
Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and
reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in
respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange
as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;
(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules
and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such
additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by
the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be
required from time to time by such rules and regulations;
(3) transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear
in the Security Register, (a) concurrently with furnishing the same to its
stockholders but only to the extent the Company is otherwise required to
furnish an annual report to its stockholders, the Company's annual report to
stockholders, containing certified financial statements, and any other
financial reports which the Company generally furnishes to its stockholders,
and (b) within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such
summaries of any other information, documents and reports required to be
filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as
may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the
Commission; and
(4) furnish to the Trustee, on or before May 1 of each year, a brief
certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer
or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of the Company's
compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For
purposes of this paragraph, such compliance shall be determined without regard
to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this
Indenture. Such certificate need not comply with Section 102.
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, LEASE, SALE OR TRANSFER
SECTION 801. When Company May Merge, Etc.
The Company shall not consolidate with, or merge with or into any other
corporation (whether or not the Company shall be the surviving corporation), or
sell, assign, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and
assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person or group of
affiliated Persons, in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
unless:
52
(1) either the Company shall be the continuing Person or the Person (if
other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or with which or into
which the Company is merged or the Person (or group of affiliated Persons) to
which all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company as an
entirety or substantially as an entirety are sold, assigned, transferred or
leased shall be a corporation (or constitute corporations) organized and
existing under the laws of the United States of America or 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, all the obligations of the Company under the
Securities and this Indenture; and
(2) immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction or
series of related transactions, no Event of Default, and no Default, shall
have occurred and be continuing;
provided, however, that nothing construed in this Section 801 or elsewhere in
this Indenture shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the Company from
consummating the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement dated
April 28, 1995, as amended as of July 26, 1995 among the Company, Wisconsin
Energy Corporation, Northern Power Wisconsin Corp. and WEC Sub Corp.
SECTION 802. Opinion of Counsel.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the proposed
transactions covered by Section 801 an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion
of Counsel stating that the transaction(s) and such supplemental indenture
comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent to the
consummation of the transaction(s) under this Indenture have been met.
SECTION 803. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger by the Company into
any other corporation or any lease, sale, assignment, or transfer of all or
substantially all of the property and assets of the Company in accordance
with Section 801, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or
into which the Company is merged or the successor corporation or affiliated
group of corporations to which such lease, sale, assignment, or transfer 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 corporation or corporations had been named as the Company
herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor
corporation or corporations shall be relieved of all obligations and
covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and in the event of such
conveyance or transfer, except in the case of a lease, any such predecessor
corporation may be dissolved and liquidated.
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ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without notice to or the consent of any Holders, the Company, when
authorized by a Board Resolution, 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:
(1) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company and
the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and
in the Securities; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders
of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the
benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are
expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender
any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any
series of Securities; or
(4) to add or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such
extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities
in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or
without interest coupons; or
(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture,
provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when
there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of
such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;
or
(6) to secure the Securities; or
(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by
a 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 611(b); or
(9) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to correct or
supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other
provision herein; or
54
(10) to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the
interests of the Holders of Securities of any series.
Upon request of the Company, accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing
the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the
Trustee of the documents described in (and subject to the last sentence of)
Section 903, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any
supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental
indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the
Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee shall, subject
to Section 903, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for
the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights
of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, with the consent of the
Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the
principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium
payable upon the redemption thereof or extend the time for payment thereof,
or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount
Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration
of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of
Payment where, or the coin or currency 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 thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
Redemption Date);
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any
such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required
for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or
Defaults or Events of Default hereunder and their consequences provided for
in this Indenture; or
(3) change the redemption provisions (including Article Eleven)
hereof in a manner adverse to such Holder; or
(4) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 513,
except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other
provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
consent of the Holder of each Outstanding
55
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 611(b) and 901(8).
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provisions 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 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.
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
The Trustee shall sign any supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to
this Article, subject to the last sentence of this Section 903. 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 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer's Certificate
and 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 or immunities under this Indenture or
otherwise.
SECTION 904. 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.
SECTION 905. 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 906. 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
56
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.
ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS
SECTION 1001. Payments of Securities.
With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will duly and
punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such
Securities in accordance with their terms and this Indenture, and will duly
comply with all the other terms, agreements and conditions contained in, or
made in the Indenture for the benefit of, the Securities of such series.
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company will maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment
where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange
or for presentation for payment, where notices and demands to or upon the
Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The
Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and
any change in location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company
shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to
furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders,
notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee as
set forth in Section 105 hereof.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for
any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations.
The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such
designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other
office or agency.
Unless otherwise set forth in, or pursuant to, a Board Resolution or
Indenture supplemental hereto with respect to a series of Securities, the
Company hereby initially designates the office of Norwest Bank Minnesota,
National Association, Sixth and Marquette, Minneapolis, Minnesota 54479-0069,
as such office of the Company.
SECTION 1003. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article 8 hereof, the Company will do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate
existence and that of each of its Subsidiaries and the rights (charter and
statutory) of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (a)
the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or
franchise or the corporate existence of any of its Subsidiaries if the Board
of Directors, or the board of directors of the Subsidiary concerned, as the
case may be, shall determine that the
57
preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and that the loss thereof is not
materially disadvantageous to the Holders, and (b) nothing herein contained
shall prevent any Subsidiary of the Company from liquidating or dissolving,
or merging into, or consolidating with the Company (provided that the Company
shall be the continuing or surviving corporation) or with any one or more
Subsidiaries if the Board of Directors or the board of directors of the
Subsidiary concerned, as the case may be, shall so determine.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 1003 or elsewhere in this
Indenture, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be permitted to consummate
the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement dated April 28, 1995,
as amended as of July 26, 1995 among the Company, Wisconsin Energy
Corporation, Northern Power Wisconsin Corp. and WEC Sub Corp.
SECTION 1004. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.
The Company will pay or discharge, or cause to be paid or discharged,
before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all material taxes, assessments
and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary
or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and
(2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid,
might by law become a material lien upon the property of the Company or any
Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay
or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment,
charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate provision has
been made.
SECTION 1005. Maintenance of Properties.
The Company will cause all material properties used or useful in the
conduct of its business or the business of any of its Subsidiaries to be
maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order (normal wear
and tear excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment and will 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 and
advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in
this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or
maintenance of any of such properties, or disposing of any of them, if such
discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Board of Directors or
of the board of directors of the Subsidiary concerned, as the case may be,
desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company and not materially disadvantageous to the Holders.
SECTION 1006. Compliance Certificates.
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 90 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Company (which fiscal year currently ends on December
31), an Officer's Certificate stating whether or not the signer knows of any
Default or Event of Default by the Company that occurred prior to the end of the
fiscal year and is then continuing. If the signer
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does know of such a Default or Event of Default, the certificate shall
describe each such Default or Event of Default and its status and the
specific section or sections of this Indenture in connection with which such
Default or Event of Default has occurred. The Company shall also promptly
notify the Trustee in writing should the Company's fiscal year be changed so
that the end thereof is on any date other than the date on which the
Company's fiscal year currently ends. The certificate need not comply with
Section 102 hereof.
(b) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 10 days after the
occurrence thereof, notice of any acceleration which with the giving of
notice and the lapse of time would be an Event of Default within the meaning
of Section 501(4) hereof.
(c) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee forthwith upon becoming aware
of a Default or Event of Default (but in no event later than 10 days after the
occurrence of each Default or Event of Default that is continuing), an Officer's
Certificate setting forth the details of such Default or Event of Default and
the action that the Company proposes to take with respect thereto and the
specific section or sections of this Indenture in connection with which such
Default or Event of Default has occurred.
SECTION 1007. Commission Reports.
(a) The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 30 days after it files
them with the Commission, copies of the quarterly and annual reports and of the
information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of
the foregoing as the Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) which
the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act. If the Company is not subject to the requirement of
such Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall file with the
Trustee, within 30 days after it would have been required to file such
information with the Commission, financial statements, including any notes
thereto and, with respect to annual reports, an auditors' report by an
accounting firm of established national reputation and a "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," both
comparable to that which the Company would have been required to include in such
annual reports, information, documents or other reports if the Company had been
subject to the requirements of such Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
(b) So long as the Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall cause
its annual report to stockholders and any other financial reports furnished
by it to stockholders generally, to be mailed to the Holders at their
addresses appearing in the register of Securities maintained by the Security
Registrar in each case at the time of such mailing or furnishing to
stockholders. If the Company is not required to furnish annual or quarterly
reports to its stockholders pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Company shall
cause its financial statements, including any notes thereto and, with respect
to annual reports, an auditors' report by an accounting firm of established
national reputation and a "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations," to be so filed with the Trustee and
mailed to the Holders within 90 days
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after the end of each of the Company's fiscal years and within 45 days after
the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year.
(c) The Company shall provide the Trustee with a sufficient number of
copies of all reports and other documents and information that the Company may
be required to deliver to the Holders under this Section 1007.
SECTION 1008. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury 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, and will actively resist any and all efforts to be compelled to take
the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or
other law, which would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any
portion of the principal of and/or interest on the Securities as contemplated
herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may
affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent
that it may lawfully do so) the Company 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.
SECTION 1009. 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 any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the
principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Securities of
that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any)
or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or
otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee
of its action or failure so to act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series
of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a
Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) 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 will promptly notify the Trustee of
its action or failure to so act.
The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities
(other than 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 will:
(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to
such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
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(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any
other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any
payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of
that series; and
(3) 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.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or 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, 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 on any Security of any series 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 the Holder of
such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only
to the Company for payment thereof, 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 of such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such
repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a
newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each
Business Day and of general circulation in New York, New York, notice 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 publication, any
unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 1101. 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 any series) in
accordance with this Article.
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SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced
by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the
Company of less than all the Securities of any series, 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 of
such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series
to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the
expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of
such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the
Trustee with an Officer's Certificate evidencing compliance with such
restriction.
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee 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 not more than 90 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series not previously called for redemption, substantially pro rata, by
lot or by any other method as the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and
that complies with the requirements of the principal national securities
exchange, if any, on which such Securities are listed, and which may provide
for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized
denomination for Securities of that 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 that series;
provided that in case the Securities of such series have different terms and
maturities, the Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company
and the Company shall give notice thereof to the Trustee.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities
selected for partial redemption, 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 the Securities shall
relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in
part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has
been or is to be redeemed.
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
mailed not less than 30 nor more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date, to
each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the
Security Register.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date;
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(2) the Redemption Price;
(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be
redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the
principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;
(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price 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;
(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for
payment of the Redemption Price;
(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case;
(7) the CUSIP number, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed; and
(8) unless otherwise provided as to a particular series of Securities, if
at the time of publication or mailing of any notice of redemption the Company
shall not have deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent and/or irrevocably
directed the Trustee or Paying Agent to apply, from money held by it available
to be used for the redemption of Securities, an amount in cash sufficient to
redeem all of the Securities called for redemption, including accrued interest
to the Redemption Date, such notice shall state that it is subject to the
receipt of the redemption moneys by the Trustee or Paying Agent before the
Redemption Date (unless such redemption is mandatory) and such notice shall be
of no effect unless such moneys are so received before such date.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the
Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the
Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or
with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent,
segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1009) an amount of money
sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date
shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which
are to be redeemed on that date.
SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities 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 the
Company shall default in the payment of the
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Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear
interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance
with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the
Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date;
provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on
or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such
Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the
close of business on the relevant Regular or Special Record Dates according
to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender
thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid,
bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the
Security.
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at
an office or agency of the Company 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), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver to the Holder of such Security with service charge, a new
Security or Securities of the same series and Stated Maturity, of any
authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal
of the Security so surrendered.
ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Securities of a 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 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be
applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the
terms of Securities of such series.
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SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (1) may deliver Securities of a series (other than any
Securities previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit
Securities of a 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, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking
fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be
made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of
such series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so
credited. Such Securities 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
sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment
for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that
series pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any
Securities to be so delivered. 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 1103 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
1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities
shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and
1107.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article; Company's Option to Effect Defeasance
or Covenant Defeasance.
Unless pursuant to Section 301 provision is made for the inapplicability
of either or both of (a) Defeasance of the Securities of a series under
Section 1302 or (b) Covenant Defeasance of the Securities of a series under
Section 1303, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case
may be, together with the other provisions of this Article, shall be
applicable to the Securities of such series, and the Company may at its
option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities of
such series, elect to have either Section 1302 (unless inapplicable) or
Section 1303 (unless inapplicable) be applied to the Outstanding Securities of
such series upon compliance with the applicable conditions set forth below in
this Article.
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SECTION 1302. Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company's exercise of the option provided in Section 1301 to
defease the Outstanding Securities of a particular series, the Company shall be
discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of
such series on the date the applicable conditions set forth in Section 1304
are satisfied (hereinafter, "Defeasance"). Defeasance shall mean that the
Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness
represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied
all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as
such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the
Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same); provided,
however, that the following rights, obligations, powers, trusts, duties and
immunities shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(A) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive,
solely from the trust fund provided for in Section 1304, payments in respect
of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities
when such payments are due, (B) the Company's obligations with respect to
such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1009, (C) the rights,
powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this
Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise
its option with respect to Defeasance under this Section 1302 notwithstanding
the prior exercise of its option with respect to Covenant Defeasance under
Section 1303 in regard to the Securities of such series.
SECTION 1303. Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company's exercise of the option provided in Section 1301 to
obtain a Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Outstanding Securities of a
particular series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under
this Indenture (except its obligations under Sections 304, 305, 306, 506,
509, 610, 1001, 1002, 1006, 1008 and 1009) with respect to the Outstanding
Securities of such series on and after the date the applicable conditions set
forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter, "Covenant Defeasance").
Covenant Defeasance shall mean that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities
of such series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no
liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in this
Indenture (except its obligations under Sections 304, 305, 306, 506, 509,
610, 1001, 1002, 1006, 1008 and 1009), whether directly or indirectly by
reason of any reference elsewhere herein or by reason of any reference to any
other provision herein or in any other document, and such omission to comply
shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 501(4) with respect to
Outstanding Securities of such series, and the remainder of this Indenture and
of the Securities of such series shall be unaffected thereby.
SECTION 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to Defeasance under Section 1302
and Covenant Defeasance under Section 1303 with respect to the Outstanding
Securities of a particular series:
(1) the Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited
with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section
609 who shall agree to comply with the
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provisions of this Article applicable to it), under the terms of an
irrevocable trust agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
such Trustee, as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following
payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the
benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) Dollars in an amount, or (B)
U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal
and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide,
not later than the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a
combination thereof, in each case sufficient, after payment of all federal,
state and local taxes or other charges or assessments in respect thereof
payable by the Trustee, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by
the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the
principal of (and premium, if any, on) and each installment of principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such
series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal
or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous
payments applicable to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the day
on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of
this Indenture and of such Securities.
(2) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of
such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such
deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit, and no Default or Event
of Default under clause (5) or (6) of Section 501 hereof shall occur and be
continuing, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the
date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be
deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).
(3) Such deposit, Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result
in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other
agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is
bound.
(4) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause any
Securities of such series then listed on any national securities exchange
registered under the Exchange Act to be delisted.
(5) In the case of an election with respect to Section 1302, the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee either (A) a ruling directed to
the Trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that
the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize
income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such
Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts,
in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such Defeasance had not occurred or (B) an Opinion of Counsel, based on
such ruling or on a change in the applicable federal income tax law since
the date of this Indenture, in either case to the effect that, and based
thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding
Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of such Defeasance and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and
at the same times as would have been the case if such Defeasance had not
occurred.
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(6) In the case of an election with respect to Section 1303, the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel or a
ruling directed to the Trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service
to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series
will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as
a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income
tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would
have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred.
(7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall be effected in
compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may
be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.
(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for relating to either the Defeasance under Section 1302
or the Covenant Defeasance under Section 1303 (as the case may be) have
been complied with.
SECTION 1305. Deposited Money and Government Obligations To Be Held In Trust.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1009, all
money and Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited
with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee--collectively for purposes of
this Section 1305, the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of the
Outstanding Securities of a particular series shall be held in trust and
applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities
and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying
Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee
may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to
become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and
interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to
the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations
deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in
respect thereof, other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is
for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series.
Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver to and pay to the Company from time to time upon Company
Request any money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section
1304 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to
the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required
to be deposited for the purpose for which such money or Government
Obligations were deposited.
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ARTICLE FOURTEEN
SUBORDINATION
SECTION 1401. Agreement of Securityholders that Securities Subordinated to
Extent Provided.
The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees
and each Holder of the Securities by his acceptance thereof likewise covenants
and agrees that the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly subordinated, to the
extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to the prior payment in full of
all Senior Indebtedness. The provisions of this Article shall constitute a
continuing offer to all persons who, in reliance upon such provisions, become
holders of, or continue to hold, Senior Indebtedness, and such provisions are
made for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and such holders are
hereby made obligees hereunder the same as if their names were written herein as
such, and they and/or each of them may proceed to enforce such provisions.
SECTION 1402. Company not to Make Payments with Respect to Securities in
Certain Circumstances.
(a) Upon the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness by lapse of time,
acceleration or otherwise, all principal thereof and premium, if any, and
interest thereon shall first be paid in full, or such payment duly provided
for in cash or in a manner satisfactory to the holder or holders of such
Senior Indebtedness, before any payment is made on account of the principal
of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities or to acquire any of the
Securities or on account of any sinking fund (except sinking fund payments
made in Securities acquired by the Company before the maturity of such Senior
Indebtedness).
(b) Upon the happening of (i) an event of default with respect to any
Senior Indebtedness, as such event of default is defined therein or in the
instrument under which it is outstanding, permitting the holders to accelerate
the maturity thereof, or (ii) an event which, with the giving of notice, or
lapse of time, or both, would constitute such an event of default, then,
unless and until such event shall have been cured or waived or shall have
ceased to exist, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities or to acquire
any of the Securities or on account of any sinking fund for the Securities
(except sinking fund payments made in Securities acquired by the Company
before such default and notice thereof).
(c) In the event that notwithstanding the provisions of this Section
1402 the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee on account of the
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, or on account
of any sinking fund, or the Holders of the Securities shall receive any such
payment, after the happening of a default in payment of the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on Senior Indebtedness, then, unless and until
such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall
have ceased to exist, such payment (subject to
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the provisions of Section 1406) shall be held by the Trustee or the Holders
of the Securities, as the case may be, in trust for the benefit of, and shall
be paid forthwith over and delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness
(pro rata as to each of such holders on the basis of the respective amounts
of Senior Indebtedness held by them) or their representative or the trustee
under the indenture or other agreement (if any) pursuant to which any
instruments evidencing any Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their
respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all Senior
Indebtedness in full in accordance with the terms of such Senior
Indebtedness, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution
to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Company shall give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of any default under any Senior Indebtedness or
under any agreement pursuant to which Senior Indebtedness may have been
issued.
SECTION 1403. Securities Subordinated to Prior Payment of all Senior
Indebtedness on Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization of
Company.
Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution,
winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy,
insolvency or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of
creditors or otherwise):
(a) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be entitled to
receive payment in full of the principal thereof, premium, if any, and
interest due thereon before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to
receive any payment on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the Securities;
(b) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or
character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of
the Securities or the Trustees would be entitled except for the provisions of
this Article Fourteen, shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or
other person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in
bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or other trustee or agent,
directly to the holders of 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, 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;
(c) in the event that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 1403, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any
kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received
by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities on account of principal,
premium, if any, or interest on the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness
is paid in full, or effective provision made for its payment, such payment or
distribution (subject to the provisions of Section 1406 and 1407) shall be
received and held in trust for and shall be paid over to the holders of the
Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid or unprovided for 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, for
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application to the payment of such Senior Indebtedness 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.
SECTION 1404. Securityholders to be Subrogated to Right of Holders of Senior
Indebtedness.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of
the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior
Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of assets of the Company
applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the
Securities shall be paid in full, and for the purpose of such subrogation no
payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness by or on
behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of the Holders of the Securities by
virtue of this Article which otherwise would have been made to the Holders of
the Securities shall, as between the Company and the Holders of the
Securities, be deemed to be payment by the Company to or on account of the
Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of this Article
Fourteen are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative
rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of
the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.
SECTION 1405. Obligation of the Company Unconditional.
Nothing contained in this Article Fourteen or elsewhere in this Indenture
or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair as between the Company
and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the
principal of, premium, if any, 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 of the
Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the
Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by
applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if
any, under this Article Fourteen 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 distribution of assets of the Company
referred to in this Article Fourteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions
of Section 601, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely
upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which
such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are
pending, or a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person
making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities,
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 Fourteen.
SECTION 1406. Trustee Entitled to Assume Payments Not Prohibited in Absence of
Notice.
The Trustee shall not at any time be charged with knowledge of the
existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of
monies to or by the Trustee, unless and until
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a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice
thereof from the Company or from one or more holders of Senior Indebtedness
or from any trustee therefor; and, prior to the receipt of any such written
notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, shall be
entitled to assume conclusively that no such facts exist.
SECTION 1407. Application by Trustee of Monies Deposited With It.
Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, any deposit
of monies by the Company with the Trustee or any paying agent (whether or not
in trust) for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest
on any Securities shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 1401, 1402,
1403 and 1404 except that, if prior to the date on which by the terms of this
Indenture any such monies may become payable for any purpose (including,
without limitation, the payment of either the principal of or the interest or
premium, if any, on any Security) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall
not have received with respect to such monies the notice provided for in
Section 1406, then, anything herein contained to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive
such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were
received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may
be received by it on or after such date.
SECTION 1408. Subordination Rights not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of
Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Indebtedness to
enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be
prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the
Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder,
or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and
covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any
such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.
SECTION 1409. Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination
of Securities.
Each Holder of the Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and
expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this
Article Fourteen and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such
purpose, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation
or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or
receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors
or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of the
Company, the immediate filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its or his
Securities in the form required in said proceedings and cause said claim to
be approved. If the Trustee does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in
the form required in such proceeding prior to 30 days before the expiration
of the time to file such claim or claims, then the holder or holders of
Senior Indebtedness are hereby authorized to and have the right to file an
appropriate claim for and on behalf of the holders of said Securities.
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SECTION 1410. Right of Trustee to Hold Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee shall be entitled to all of the rights set forth in this
Article Fourteen in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it
to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in
Section 613 or elsewhere in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the
Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
SECTION 1411. Article Fourteen Not to Prevent Events of Default.
The failure to make a payment on account of principal, interest or
sinking fund by reason of any provision in this Article Fourteen shall not be
construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section
501.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 1501. Miscellaneous.
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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed
and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
By ___________________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:
_____________________________
Name:
Title:
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By ___________________________________
Name:
Title:
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