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EXHIBIT 4.4
Fixed Rate Senior Note
REGISTERED REGISTERED
No. FXR CUSIP:
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New
York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or
payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or
such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository
Trust Company and any payment is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR
OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since
the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.*
IF APPLICABLE, THE "TOTAL AMOUNT OF OID", "ORIGINAL YIELD TO
MATURITY" AND "INITIAL ACCRUAL PERIOD OID" (COMPUTED UNDER THE
APPROXIMATE METHOD) SET FORTH BELOW HAS BEEN COMPLETED SOLELY
FOR THE PURPOSES OF APPLYING THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX ORIGINAL
ISSUE DISCOUNT ("OID") RULES.
WILLIAMS HOLDINGS OF DELAWARE, INC.
SENIOR MEDIUM-TERM NOTE
(Fixed Rate)
ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE: INITIAL REDEMPTION DATE: INTEREST RATE: MATURITY DATE:
INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:
March 1
September 1
INTEREST ACCRUAL DATE: SPECIFIED CURRENCY:
TOTAL AMOUNT INITIAL REDEMPTION APPLICABILITY OF MODIFIED
OF OID: PERCENTAGE: PAYMENT UPON ACCELERATION:
__________
* Applies only if this Note is a Registered Global Security.
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ANNUAL REDEMPTION PERCENTAGE If yes, state Issue Price:
REDUCTION:
ORIGINAL YIELD TO MATURITY:
INITIAL REPAYMENT DATE:
INITIAL ACCRUAL PERIOD OID:
INITIAL REPAYMENT
PERCENTAGE:
ANNUAL REPAYMENT PERCENTAGE
REDUCTION:
TRUSTEE'S [AND/OR AUTHENTICATING AGENT'S] CERTIFICATE[S] OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Senior
Indenture.
Citibank, N.A.,
as Trustee
By:__________________________
Authorized Officer
[___________________________,
as Authenticating Agent
By:__________________________
Authorized Officer]
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Williams Holdings of Delaware, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Issuer"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to
or registered assignees, the principal sum of
, on the Maturity Date specified above (except to the extent redeemed or repaid
prior to the Maturity Date) and to pay interest thereon at the Interest Rate
per annum specified above from the Original Issue Date specified above until
the principal hereof is paid or duly made available for payment (except as
provided below), semiannually in arrears on the first day of March and
September in each year commencing on the Interest Payment Date next succeeding
the Original Issue Date specified above, and on the Maturity Date (or any
redemption or repayment date); provided, however, that if the Original Issue
Date occurs between a Record Date, as defined below, and the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date, interest payments will commence on the second Interest
Payment Date succeeding the Original Issue Date to the registered holder of
this Note on the Record Date with respect to such second Interest Payment Date.
Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent
Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, or,
if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from the Original Issue
Date, until the principal hereof has been paid or duly made available for
payment (except as provided below). The interest so payable, and punctually
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will, subject to
certain exceptions described herein, be paid to the person in whose name this
Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business
on the date 15 calendar days prior to an Interest Payment Date (whether or not
a Business Day) (the "Record Date"); provided, however, that interest payable
on the Maturity Date (or any redemption or repayment date) will be payable to
the person to whom the principal hereof shall be payable. As used herein,
"Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, and that is
neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized
or required by law or regulation to close in The City of New York and (i) with
respect to Notes denominated in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars or
European Currency Units ("ECUs") in the capital city of the country of the
Specified Currency and (ii) with respect to Notes denominated in ECUs, in
Brussels, Belgium.
Payment of the principal of this Note, any premium and the
interest due at the Maturity Date (or any redemption or repayment date) will be
made in immediately available funds upon
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surrender of this Note at the office or agency of the Trustee as defined on the
reverse hereof, maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, or at such other paying agency as the Issuer may determine.
Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Note will
be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America or in a
Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars as indicated herein as at the time
of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided,
however, that U.S. dollar payments of interest, other than interest due at
maturity or any date of redemption or repayment, will be made by United States
dollar check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear in the Note register. A holder of U.S. $10,000,000 or
more in aggregate principal amount of Notes having the same Interest Payment
Date will be entitled to receive payments of interest, other than interest due
at maturity or any date of redemption or repayment, by wire transfer of
immediately available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions in
writing have been received by the Trustee not less than 15 calendar days prior
to the applicable Interest Payment Date. Payments of interest on Notes in a
Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars will be made by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account maintained by the holder with a bank
located outside the United States and the holder of such Notes shall provide
the Trustee with the appropriate wire transfer instructions.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this
Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all
purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been
executed by the Trustee or by the Authenticating Agent, referred to on the
reverse hereof, by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any
benefit under the Senior Indenture, as defined on the reverse hereof, or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Note to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
DATED: WILLIAMS HOLDINGS OF DELAWARE, INC.
By: ________________________________
Title:
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This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Senior
Medium-Term Notes having maturities more than nine months from the date of
issue (the "Notes") of the Issuer. The Notes are issuable under a Senior
Indenture, dated as of _____________, 199__ (herein called the "Senior
Indenture") between the Issuer and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee (herein called
the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Senior
Indenture), to which Senior Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto
reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations
of rights, duties and immunities of the Issuer, the Trustee and holders of the
Notes and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and
delivered. The terms of individual Notes may vary with respect to interest
rates, interest rate formulas, issue dates, maturity dates, or otherwise, all
as provided in the Senior Indenture. To the extent not inconsistent herewith
the terms of the Senior Indenture are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Unless otherwise indicated on the face of this Note, this Note
may not be redeemed prior to the Maturity Date. If so indicated on the face of
this Note, this Note may be redeemed at the option of the Issuer on or after a
specified date or dates prior to the Maturity Date on the terms set forth on
the face hereof, together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon to the date
of redemption (except as provided below). Notice of redemption shall be mailed
to the registered holders of the Notes designated for redemption at their
addresses as the same shall appear on the Note register not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, subject to all the
conditions and provisions of the Senior Indenture. In the event of redemption
of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes for the amount of the unredeemed
portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the holder hereof upon the
cancellation hereof.
Unless otherwise indicated on the face of this Note, this Note
may not be repaid prior to the Maturity Date. If so indicated on the face of
this Note, this Note may be subject to repayment at the option of the holder on
or after a specified date or dates prior to the Maturity Date on the terms set
forth on the face hereof, together with interest accrued and unpaid thereon to
the date of repayment (except as provided below). For this Note to be repaid
in whole or in part at the option of the holder hereof, the Trustee must
receive not less than 30 or more than 45 days prior to the Repayment Date (i)
the Note with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" below duly
completed or (ii) a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a
member of a national securities exchange or the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or a trust company in the United
States of America setting forth the name of the holder of this Note, the
principal amount hereof, the certificate number of this Note or a description
of the Note's tenor or terms, the principal amount hereof to be prepaid, a
statement that the option to elect
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repayment is being exercised thereby and a guarantee that this Note to be
prepaid with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" below duly completed
will be received by the Trustee no later than five Business Days after the date
of such telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter and this Note and
form duly completed are received by the Trustee by such fifth Business Day.
Exercise of such repayment option shall be irrevocable. Such option may be
exercised by the holder for less than the entire principal amount provided that
the principal amount remaining outstanding after repayment is at least $100,000
or any larger amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000. In the event of
repayment of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes for the amount of the
portion hereof that is not repaid shall be issued in the name of the holder
hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
Interest payments on this Note will include interest accrued
to but excluding the Interest Payment Dates or the Maturity Date (or earlier
redemption date), as the case may be. Interest payments for this Note will be
computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
In the case where the Interest Payment Date or the Maturity
Date (or any redemption or repayment date) does not fall on a Business Day,
payment of interest, premium, if any, or principal otherwise payable on such
date need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment
Date or on the Maturity Date (or the redemption or repayment date), and no
interest shall accrue for the period from and after the Interest Payment Date
or the Maturity Date (or the redemption or repayment date) to the next such
succeeding Business Day.
This Note and all the obligations of the Issuer hereunder are
direct, unsecured obligations of the Issuer, and rank without preference or
priority among themselves and pari passu with all other existing and future
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer.
This Note, and any Note or Notes issued upon transfer or
exchange hereof, is issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons,
and, if denominated in U.S. dollars, is issuable only in denominations of U.S.
$100,000 and any integral multiple of U.S. $1,000 in excess thereof. If this
Note is denominated in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars, it is
issuable only in denominations of the equivalent of U.S. $100,000 (rounded down
to an integral multiple of 1,000 units of such Specified Currency), or any
amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of 1,000 units of such
Specified Currency, as determined by reference to the noon dollar buying rate
in New York City for cable transfers of such Specified Currency published by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the "Market Exchange Rate") on the
Business Day immediately preceding the date of issuance; provided, however, in
the case of ECUs, the Market Exchange Rate shall be the rate of
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exchange determined by the Commission of the European Communities (or any
successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European
Communities, or any successor publication, on the Business Day immediately
preceding the date of issuance.
The Trustee has been appointed registrar for the Notes, (the
"Registrar," which such term includes any successor registrar appointed by the
Issuer), and the Registrar shall maintain at its office in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York a register for the registration and transfer of
Notes. This Note may be transferred at the aforesaid office of the Registrar
by surrendering this Note for cancellation, accompanied by a written instrument
of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar and duly executed by the
registered holder hereof in person or by the holder's attorney duly authorized
in writing, and thereupon the Registrar will issue in the name of the
transferee or transferees, in exchange herefor, a new Note or Notes having
identical terms and provisions and for a like aggregate principal amount in
authorized denominations, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
provided, however, that the Registrar shall not be required (i) to register the
transfer of or exchange any Note that has been called for redemption in whole
or in part, except the unredeemed portion of Notes being redeemed in part, (ii)
to register the transfer of or exchange any Note if the holder thereof has
exercised his right, if any, to require the Issuer to repurchase such Note in
whole or in part, except the portion of such Note not required to be
repurchased, or (iii) to register the transfer or exchange Notes to the extent
and during the period so provided in the Senior Indenture with respect to the
redemption of Notes. Notes are exchangeable at said office for other Notes of
other authorized denominations of equal aggregate principal amount having
identical terms and provisions. All such exchanges and transfers of Notes will
be free of charge, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge in connection therewith. All Notes
surrendered for exchange or transfer shall be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar and executed by
the registered holder in person or by the holder's attorney duly authorized in
writing. The date of registration of any Note delivered upon any exchange or
transfer of Notes shall be such that no gain or loss of interest results from
such exchange or transfer.
In case any Note shall at any time become mutilated, defaced
or be destroyed, lost or stolen and such Note or evidence of the loss, theft or
destruction thereof (together with the indemnity hereinafter referred to and
such other documents or proof as may be required in the premises) shall be
delivered to the Trustee, a new Note of like tenor will be issued by the Issuer
in exchange for the Note so mutilated or defaced, or in lieu of the Note so
destroyed or lost or stolen, but, in the case of any destroyed or lost or
stolen Note, only upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee and the
Issuer that such Note was destroyed or lost or stolen and, if required, upon
receipt also of
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indemnity satisfactory to each of them. All expenses and reasonable charges
associated with procuring such indemnity and with the preparation,
authentication and delivery of a new Note shall be borne by the owner of the
Note mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen.
The Senior Indenture provides that, (a) if an Event of Default
(as defined in the Senior Indenture) due to the default in payment of principal
of, premium, if any, or interest on, any series of debt securities issued under
the Senior Indenture, including the series of Senior Medium-Term Notes of which
this Note forms a part, or due to the default in the performance or breach of
any other covenant or warranty of the Issuer applicable to the debt securities
of such series but not applicable to all outstanding debt securities issued
under the Senior Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, either the
Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt
securities of each affected series (voting as a single class) may then declare
the principal of all debt securities of all such series and interest accrued
thereon to be due and payable immediately and (b) if an Event of Default due to
a default in the performance of any other of the covenants or agreements in the
Senior Indenture applicable to all outstanding debt securities issued
thereunder, including this Note, or due to certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency and reorganization of the Issuer, shall have occurred and be
continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal
amount of all debt securities issued under the Senior Indenture then
outstanding (treated as one class) may declare the principal of all such debt
securities and interest accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately, but
upon certain conditions such declarations may be annulled and past defaults may
be waived (except a continuing default in payment of principal (or premium, if
any) or interest on such debt securities) by the holders of a majority in
principal amount of the debt securities of all affected series then
outstanding.
If the face hereof indicates that this Note is subject to
"Modified Payment upon Acceleration," then if the principal hereof is declared
to be due and payable as described in the preceding paragraph, the amount of
principal due and payable with respect to this Note shall be limited to the
aggregate principal amount hereof multiplied by the sum of the Issue Price
specified on the face hereof (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate
principal amount) plus the original issue discount amortized from the Original
Issue Date to the date of declaration, which amortization shall be calculated
using the "interest method" (computed in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in effect on the date of declaration).
The Senior Indenture permits the Issuer and the Trustee, with
the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the debt securities of each series issued under the Senior Indenture
then outstanding and affected, to
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execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any
manner the rights of the holders of each series so affected; provided that the
Issuer and the Trustee may not, without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding debt security affected thereby, (a) extend the final maturity of
any such debt security, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the
rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount
payable on redemption or repayment thereof, or change the currency of payment
thereof, or impair or affect the rights of any holder to institute suit for the
payment thereof without the consent of the holder of each debt security so
affected; or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage in principal amount of debt
securities the consent of the holders of which is required for any such
supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of each debt
security so affected.
Except as set forth below, if the principal of, or interest
on, this Note is payable in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars and
such Specified Currency is not available to the Issuer for making payments
hereon due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond
the control of the Issuer or is no longer used by the government of the country
issuing such currency or for the settlement of transactions by public
institutions within the international banking community, then the Issuer will
be entitled to satisfy its obligations to the holder of this Note by making
such payments in U.S. dollars on the basis of the Market Exchange Rate on the
date of such payment or, if the Market Exchange Rate is not available on such
date, as of the most recent practicable date. Any payment made under such
circumstances in U.S. dollars where the required payment is in a Specified
Currency other than U.S. dollars will not constitute an Event of Default.
If payment in respect of this Note is required to be made in
ECUs and ECUs are unavailable due to the imposition of exchange controls or
other circumstances beyond the Issuer's control or are no longer used in the
European Monetary System, then all payments in respect of this Note shall be
made in U.S. dollars until ECUs are again available or so used. The amount of
each payment in U.S. dollars shall be computed on the basis of the equivalent
of the ECU in U.S. dollars, determined as described below, as of the second
Business Day prior to the date on which such payment is due.
The equivalent of the ECU in U.S. dollars as of any date (the
"Day of Valuation") shall be determined by the Issuer or its agent on the
following basis. The component currencies of the ECU for this purpose (the
"Components") shall be the currency amounts that were components of the ECU as
of the last date on which the ECU was used in the European Monetary System.
The equivalent of the ECU in U.S. dollars shall be calculated by aggregating
the U.S. dollar equivalents of the Components. The U.S. dollar equivalent of
each of the Components shall be determined by the Issuer or such
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agent on the basis of the most recently available Market Exchange Rates for
such Components.
If the official unit of any Component is altered by way of
combination or subdivision, the number of units of that currency as a Component
shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If two or more
Components are consolidated into a single currency, the amounts of those
currencies as Components shall be replaced by an amount in such single currency
equal to the sum of the amounts of the consolidated component currencies
expressed in such single currency. If any Component is divided into two or
more currencies, the amount of the original component currency shall be
replaced by the amounts of such two or more currencies, each of which shall be
equal to the amount of the original component currency separated into the
number of currencies into which such original currency was divided.
All determinations referred to above made by the Issuer or its
agent shall be at its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest
error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and
binding on holders of Notes.
So long as this Note shall be outstanding, the Issuer will
cause to be maintained an office or agency for the payment of the principal of
and premium, if any, and interest on this Note as herein provided in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and an office or agency in said
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for the registration, transfer and
exchange as aforesaid of the Notes. The Issuer may designate other agencies
for the payment of said principal, premium and interest at such place or places
(subject to applicable laws and regulations) as the Issuer may decide. So long
as there shall be any such agency, the Issuer shall keep the Trustee advised of
the names and locations of such agencies, if any are so designated.
With respect to moneys paid by the Issuer and held by the
Trustee for payment of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on any
Notes, that remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal,
interest or premium shall have become due and payable (whether at maturity or
upon call for redemption or otherwise), (i) the Trustee shall notify the
holders of such Notes that such moneys shall be repaid to the Issuer and any
person claiming such moneys shall thereafter look only to the Issuer for
payment thereof and (ii) such moneys shall be so repaid to the Issuer. Upon
such repayment all liability of the Trustee with respect to such moneys shall
thereupon cease, without, however, limiting in any way any obligation that the
Issuer may have to pay the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on this
Note as the same shall become due.
No provision of this Note or of the Senior Indenture shall
alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and
unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if
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any, and interest on this Note at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed unless otherwise agreed between the Issuer and the
registered holder of this Note.
Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of
transfer, the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee
may treat the holder in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof
for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Issuer,
the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of
or the interest on this Note, for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in
respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Senior Indenture or any
indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, shareholder, officer
or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Issuer or of any
successor corporation, either directly or through the Issuer of any successor
corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or
by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such
liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for
the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.
This Note shall for all purposes be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Senior
Indenture and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
them in the Senior Indenture.
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ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on
the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out
in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM-as tenants in common
TEN ENT-as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN-as joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT-...........Custodian...........
(Cust) (Minor)
Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act...............
(State)
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the
above list.
_____________
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s)
and transfer(s) unto
[PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE]
[PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE]
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and
appointing such person attorney to transfer such note on the books of the
Issuer, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: _______________________ _____________________________
[Signature of Assignor]
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as
written upon the face of the within Note in every particular without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
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OPTION TO ELECT REPAYMENT
The undersigned hereby irrevocably requests and instructs the
Issuer to repay the within Note (or portion hereof specified below) pursuant to
its terms at a price equal to the applicable Repayment Price thereof together
with interest to the Repayment Date, to the undersigned at
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print or typewrite name and address of the undersigned)
If less than the entire principal amount of the within Note is
to be repaid, specify the portion thereof which the holder elects to have
repaid $___________________; and specify the denomination or denominations
(which shall be in authorized denominations) of the Notes to be issued to the
holder for the portion of the within Note not being repaid (in the absence of
any such specification, one such Note will be issued for the portion not being
repaid):
________________________________________________________________________________
Date: ______________________________ ____________________________________
(Signature)
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