103
EXHIBIT 10.4
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION
OF TRUST
EVANS CAPITAL TRUST I
Dated as of October 1, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS.................................................................... 1
Section 1.1. Definitions........................................................................... 1
ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION...................................................................................... 9
Section 2.1. Name.................................................................................. 9
Section 2.2. Office................................................................................ 9
Section 2.3. Purpose............................................................................... 9
Section 2.4. Authority............................................................................. 9
Section 2.5. Title to Property of the Trust........................................................ 9
Section 2.6. Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the Administrators.............................. 9
Section 2.7. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.................................. 14
Section 2.8. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee........................................ 15
Section 2.9. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees and the Administrators............ 17
Section 2.10. Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee............................................... 19
Section 2.11. Delaware Trustee...................................................................... 21
Section 2.12. Execution of Documents................................................................ 21
Section 2.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities................................ 21
Section 2.14. Duration of Trust..................................................................... 21
Section 2.15. Mergers............................................................................... 21
ARTICLE III SPONSOR........................................................................................... 23
Section 3.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities............................................... 23
Section 3.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor....................................................... 24
ARTICLE IV TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATORS....................................................................... 24
Section 4.1. Number of Trustees.................................................................... 24
Section 4.2. Delaware Trustee...................................................................... 24
Section 4.3. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility.................................................... 25
Section 4.4. Certain Qualifications of the Delaware Trustee Generally.............................. 25
Section 4.5. Administrators........................................................................ 25
Section 4.6. Initial Delaware Trustee.............................................................. 25
Section 4.7. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Trustees and the Administrators........... 25
Section 4.8. Vacancies Among Trustees.............................................................. 27
Section 4.9. Effect of Vacancies................................................................... 28
Section 4.10. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators....................................... 28
Section 4.11. Delegation of Power................................................................... 28
Section 4.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business........................... 28
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
PAGE
ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS..................................................................................... 29
Section 5.1. Distributions......................................................................... 29
ARTICLE VI ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES............................................................................ 29
Section 6.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities............................................... 29
Section 6.2. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Calculation Agent and Registrar......................... 30
Section 6.3. Form and Dating....................................................................... 31
Section 6.4. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates..................................... 31
Section 6.5. Temporary Certificates................................................................ 32
Section 6.6. Cancellation.......................................................................... 32
Section 6.7. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults........................................... 32
ARTICLE VII DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST.............................................................. 34
Section 7.1. Dissolution and Termination of Trust.................................................. 34
ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF INTERESTS............................................................................. 35
Section 8.1. General............................................................................... 35
Section 8.2. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions.................................................. 36
Section 8.3. Deemed Security Holders............................................................... 39
Section 8.4. Transfer of Initial Securities........................................................ 39
ARTICLE IX LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS ............................. 40
Section 9.1. Liability............................................................................. 40
Section 9.2. Exculpation........................................................................... 40
Section 9.3. Fiduciary Duty........................................................................ 41
Section 9.4. Indemnification....................................................................... 41
Section 9.5. Outside Businesses.................................................................... 44
Section 9.6. Compensation; Fee..................................................................... 45
ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING........................................................................................ 45
Section 10.1. Fiscal Year........................................................................... 45
Section 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters............................................................ 45
Section 10.3. Banking............................................................................... 46
Section 10.4. Withholding........................................................................... 46
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS........................................................................... 47
Section 11.1. Amendments............................................................................ 47
Section 11.2. Meetings of the Holders of the Securities; Action by Written Consent.................. 49
ARTICLE XII REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE .................................... 50
Section 12.1. Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee............................... 50
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
PAGE
Section 12.2. Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee.................................... 51
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS.................................................................................. 52
Section 13.1. Notices............................................................................... 52
Section 13.2. Governing Law......................................................................... 53
Section 13.3. Submission to Jurisdiction............................................................ 53
Section 13.4. Intention of the Parties.............................................................. 54
Section 13.5. Headings.............................................................................. 54
Section 13.6. Successors and Assigns................................................................ 54
Section 13.7. Partial Enforceability................................................................ 54
Section 13.8. Counterparts.......................................................................... 54
ANNEXES AND EXHIBITS
ANNEX I TERMS OF FLOATING RATE CAPITAL SECURITIES AND FLOATING RATE COMMON SECURITIES .......................... A-1
EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE............................................................. A-1
EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE.............................................................. A-2
EXHIBIT B FORM OF TRANSFEREE CERTIFICATE TO BE EXECUTED BY TRANSFEREES OTHER THAN QIBs.......................... B-1
EXHIBIT C FORM OF TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE TO BE EXECUTED FOR QIBs............................................. C-1
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AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
EVANS CAPITAL TRUST I
October 1, 2004
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST (this
"Declaration"), dated and effective as of October 1, 2004, by the Trustees (as
defined herein), the Administrators (as defined herein), the Sponsor (as defined
herein) and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust (as defined herein) to be issued pursuant to this
Declaration.
WHEREAS, certain of the Trustees and the Sponsor established
Evans Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust
Act (as defined herein), pursuant to a Declaration of Trust, dated as of
September 29, 2004 (the "Original Declaration"), and a Certificate of Trust
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 29,
2004, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust investing
the proceeds thereof in certain debentures of the Debenture Issuer (as defined
herein) and engaging in those activities necessary, advisable or incidental
thereto;
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the assets of
the Trust have been issued; and
WHEREAS, all of the Trustees, the Administrators and the
Sponsor, by this Declaration, amend and restate each and every term and
provision of the Original Declaration.
NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto
to continue the Trust as a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act and
that this Declaration constitutes the governing instrument of such statutory
trust and that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the
benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued hereunder,
subject to the provisions of this Declaration, and, in consideration of the
mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally
bound hereby, amend and restate in its entirety the Original Declaration and
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined
in the preamble above or elsewhere herein have the respective meanings assigned
to them in this Section 1.1 or, if not defined in this Section 1.1 or elsewhere
herein, in the Indenture;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same
meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration"
are to this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and
Sections and Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes
and Exhibits to this Declaration unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act (as defined
herein) has the same meaning when used in this Declaration unless otherwise
defined in this Declaration or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice
versa.
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"Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.06 of the Indenture.
"Administrative Action" has the meaning set forth in paragraph
4(a) of Annex I.
"Administrators" means each of James Tilley and Mark DeBacker,
solely in such Person's capacity as Administrator of the Trust continued
hereunder and not in such Person's individual capacity, or such Administrator's
successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor appointed as herein
provided.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule
405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
"Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is
authorized to bind such Person.
"Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
(a) a court having jurisdiction in the premises enters a
decree or order for relief in respect of such Person in an involuntary case
under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect, or appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or for any substantial
part of its property, or orders the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs,
and such decree, appointment or order remains unstayed and in effect for a
period of 90 consecutive days; or
(b) such Person commences a voluntary case under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect, consents to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case
under any such law, or consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other
similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or
makes any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or fails generally to
pay its debts as they become due.
"Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or
any other day on which banking institutions in Wilmington, Delaware, New York
City or Angola, New York are permitted or required by any applicable law or
executive order to close.
"Calculation Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.01
of the Indenture.
"Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section
6.1(a).
"Capital Security Certificate" means a definitive Certificate
registered in the name of the Holder representing a Capital Security
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
"Capital Treatment Event" has the meaning set forth in
paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
"Certificate" means any certificate evidencing Securities.
"Certificate of Trust" means the certificate of trust filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Trust,
as amended and restated from time to time.
"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section
6.1(a).
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"Common Security Certificate" means a definitive Certificate
registered in the name of the Holder representing a Common Security
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.
"Company Indemnified Person" means (a) any Administrator; (b)
any Affiliate of any Administrator; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders,
members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Administrator; or
(d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Institutional
Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee
shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office shall
at all times be located in the United States and at the date of execution of
this Declaration is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street,
Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attention: Corporate Capital Markets.
"Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of
Annex I.
"Covered Person" means: (a) any Administrator, officer,
director, shareholder, partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i)
the Trust or (ii) any of the Trust's Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of
Securities.
"Debenture Issuer" means Evans Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding
company incorporated in New York, in its capacity as issuer of the Debentures
under the Indenture.
"Debenture Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware
banking corporation, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee under
the Indenture until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means
such successor trustee.
"Debentures" means the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities due 2034 to be issued by the Debenture Issuer under the Indenture.
"Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice
or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
"Deferred Interest" means any interest on the Debentures that
would have been overdue and unpaid for more than one Distribution Payment Date
but for the imposition of an Extension Period, and the interest that shall
accrue (to the extent that the payment of such interest is legally enforceable)
on such interest at the Coupon Rate in effect for each such Extension Period,
compounded quarterly from the date on which such Deferred Interest would
otherwise have been due and payable until paid or made available for payment.
"Definitive Capital Securities" means any Capital Securities
in definitive form issued by the Trust.
"Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
"Direct Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(e).
"Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of
Securities in accordance with Section 5.1.
"Distribution Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in
paragraph 2(e) of Annex I.
"Distribution Period" has the meaning set forth in paragraph
2(a) of Annex I.
"Event of Default" means the occurrence of an Indenture Event
of Default.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
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"Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(e)
of Annex I.
"Federal Reserve" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of
Annex I.
"Fiduciary Indemnified Person" shall mean each of the
Institutional Trustee (including in its individual capacity), the Delaware
Trustee (including in its individual capacity), any Affiliate of the
Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, and any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, custodians,
nominees or agents of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee.
"Fiscal Year" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1
"Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of the
Closing Date, of the Sponsor in respect of the Capital Securities.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate
representing a Security is registered on the register maintained by or on behalf
of the Registrar, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the
Statutory Trust Act.
"Indemnified Person" means a Company Indemnified Person or a
Fiduciary Indemnified Person.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date,
among the Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Trustee, and any indenture
supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued.
"Indenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as
defined in the Indenture.
"Institutional Trustee" means the Trustee meeting the
eligibility requirements set forth in Section 4.3.
"Interest" means any interest due on the Debentures, including
any Deferred Interest and Defaulted Interest (as each such term is defined in
the Indenture).
"Investment Company" means an investment company as defined in
the Investment Company Act.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Investment Company Event" has the meaning set forth in
paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
"Legal Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(e).
"LIBOR" means the London Interbank Offered Rate for
three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe as determined by the Calculation
Agent according to paragraph 2(b) of Annex I.
"LIBOR Banking Day" has the meaning set forth in paragraph
2(b)(1) of Annex I.
"LIBOR Business Day" has the meaning set forth in paragraph
2(b)(1) of Annex I.
"LIBOR Determination Date" has the meaning set forth in
paragraph 2(b)(1) of Annex I.
"Liquidation" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of
Annex I.
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in
paragraph 3 of Annex I.
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"Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means
Holders of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the
context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of
outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record
owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the
stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages
are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers'
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Declaration shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers'
Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating
thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the
Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such
examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to
enable such officer 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
officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Paying Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
"Payment Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual,
corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock
company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.
"PORTAL" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a)(i).
"Property Account" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.8(c).
"Pro Rata" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8 of Annex
I.
"Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement relating to
the offering and sale of Capital Securities.
"Purchaser" means NBC Capital Markets Group, Inc. or its
designee SIGLER & Co.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined under
Rule 144A.
"Quorum" means a majority of the Administrators or, if there
are only two Administrators, both of them.
"Redemption/Distribution Notice" has the meaning set forth in
paragraph 4(e) of Annex I.
"Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a)
of Annex I.
"Registrar" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
"Relevant Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.7(a).
112
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Institutional
Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional
Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Declaration,
including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any
assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer
or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust
matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that
officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Restricted Securities Legend" has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.2(c).
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
"Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act.
"Rule 3a-7" means Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act.
"Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital
Securities.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time-to-time, or any successor legislation.
"Sponsor" means Evans Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company
that is a U.S. Person incorporated in New York, or any successor entity in a
merger, consolidation or amalgamation that is a U.S. Person, in its capacity as
sponsor of the Trust.
"Statutory Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the
Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time
to time, or any successor legislation.
"Successor Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.7(e).
"Successor Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.15(b).
"Successor Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.7(b).
"Successor Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.15(b).
"Super Majority" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 5(b)
of Annex I.
"Tax Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of
Annex I.
"10% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means Holders of
outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may
require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding
Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of 10%
or more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that
would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of
all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
"Transfer Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
"Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations,
including temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the
United States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time
(including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended from time-to-time, or any successor legislation.
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"Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on
deposit in, or owing to, the Property Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in
respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being
held or deemed to be held by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to the trusts of
this Declaration.
"Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this
Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in
accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to
time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the
provisions hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall
refer to such Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
"U.S. Person" means a United States Person as defined in
Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.01. Name. The Trust is named "Evans Capital Trust
I," as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrators
following written notice to the Institutional Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities. The Trust's activities may be conducted under the name of the Trust
or any other name deemed advisable by the Administrators.
Section 2.02. Office. The address of the principal office of
the Trust, which shall be in a State of the United States or the District of
Columbia, is 14-16 N. Main Street, P.O. Box 191, Angola, New York 14006-0191. On
ten Business Days' written notice to the Institutional Trustee and the Holders
of the Securities, the Administrators may designate another principal office,
which shall be in a State of the United States or the District of Columbia.
Section 2.03. Purpose. The exclusive purposes and functions of
the Trust are (a) to issue and sell the Securities representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (b) to invest the gross
proceeds from such sale in the Debentures and (c) except as otherwise limited
herein, to engage in only those other activities incidental thereto that are
deemed necessary or advisable by the Institutional Trustee, including, without
limitation, those activities specified in this Declaration. The Trust shall not
borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge
any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any
activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States
federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust.
Section 2.04. Authority. Except as specifically provided in
this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall have exclusive and complete
authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken by a Trustee
on behalf of the Trust and in accordance with such Trustee's powers shall
constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees
acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to inquire into the
authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are
entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set
forth in this Declaration. The Administrators shall have only those ministerial
duties set forth herein with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust
and are not intended to be trustees or fiduciaries with respect to the Trust or
the Holders. The Institutional Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be
obligated except as provided in Section 2.6, to perform those duties assigned to
the Administrators.
Section 2.05. Title to Property of the Trust. Except as
provided in Section 2.8 with respect to the Debentures and the Property Account
or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal title to all assets of the
Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall not have legal title to
any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial
interest in the assets of the Trust.
Section 2.06. Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the
Administrators.
(a) The Trustees and the Administrators shall conduct the
affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Declaration. Subject
to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in
114
accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Administrators and,
at the direction of the Administrators, the Trustees, shall have the authority
to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Administrators
to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise
granted to the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, under this
Declaration, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without
limitation, the following:
(i) Each Administrator shall have the power, duty and
authority, and is hereby authorized, to act on behalf of the
Trust with respect to the following matters:
(A) the issuance and sale of the Securities;
(B) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to
execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust,
such agreements as may be necessary or desirable in
connection with the purposes and function of the
Trust, including agreements with the Paying Agent,
the Purchase Agreement, a Debenture subscription
agreement between the Trust and the Sponsor and a
Common Securities subscription agreement between the
Trust and the Sponsor;
(C) ensuring compliance with the Securities
Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws;
(D) if and at such time determined solely by
the Sponsor at the request of the Holders, assisting
in the designation of the Capital Securities for
trading in the Private Offering, Resales and Trading
through the Automatic Linkages ("PORTAL") system if
available;
(E) the sending of notices (other than
notices of default) and other information regarding
the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in
accordance with this Declaration, including notice of
any notice received from the Debenture Issuer of its
election to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period
under the Indenture;
(F) the appointment of a Paying Agent,
Transfer Agent and Registrar in accordance with this
Declaration;
(G) execution and delivery of the Securities
in accordance with this Declaration;
(H) execution and delivery of closing
certificates pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and
the application for a taxpayer identification number;
(I) unless otherwise determined by the
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Securities or as otherwise required by the Statutory
Trust Act, to execute on behalf of the Trust (either
acting alone or together with any or all of the
Administrators) any documents that the Administrators
have the power to execute pursuant to this
Declaration;
(J) the taking of any action incidental to
the foregoing as the Sponsor or an Administrator may
from time to time determine is necessary or advisable
to give effect to the terms of this Declaration for
the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of
the effect of any such action on any particular
Holder);
(K) to establish a record date with respect
to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a
record date be established, including Distributions,
voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to
issue relevant notices to the Holders of Capital
115
Securities and Holders of Common Securities as to
such actions and applicable record dates;
(L) to duly prepare and file on behalf of
the Trust all applicable tax returns and tax
information reports that are required to be filed
with respect to the Trust;
(M) to negotiate the terms of, and the
execution and delivery of, the Purchase Agreement
providing for the sale of the Capital Securities;
(N) to employ or otherwise engage employees,
agents (who may be designated as officers with
titles), managers, contractors, advisors, attorneys
and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for
such services;
(O) to incur expenses that are necessary or
incidental to carry out any of the purposes of the
Trust;
(P) to give the certificate required by
Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act to the
Institutional Trustee, which certificate may be
executed by an Administrator; and
(Q) to take all action that may be necessary
or appropriate for the preservation and the
continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights,
franchises and privileges as a statutory trust under
the laws of each jurisdiction (other than the State
of Delaware) in which such existence is necessary to
protect the limited liability of the Holders of the
Capital Securities or to enable the Trust to effect
the purposes for which the Trust was created.
(ii) As among the Trustees and the Administrators,
the Institutional Trustee shall have the power, duty and
authority, and is hereby authorized, to act on behalf of the
Trust with respect to the following matters:
(A) the establishment of the Property
Account;
(B) the receipt of the Debentures;
(C) the collection of interest, principal
and any other payments made in respect of the
Debentures in the Property Account;
(D) the distribution through the Paying
Agent of amounts owed to the Holders in respect of
the Securities;
(E) the exercise of all of the rights,
powers and privileges of a holder of the Debentures;
(F) the sending of notices of default and
other information regarding the Securities and the
Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this
Declaration;
(G) the distribution of the Trust Property
in accordance with the terms of this Declaration;
(H) to the extent provided in this
Declaration, the winding up of the affairs of and
liquidation of the Trust and the preparation,
execution and filing of the certificate of
cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware;
(I) after any Event of Default (of which the
Institutional Trustee has knowledge (as provided in
Section 2.10(m) hereof)) (provided, that such Event
of Default
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is not by or with respect to the Institutional
Trustee), the taking of any action incidental to the
foregoing as the Institutional Trustee may from time
to time determine is necessary or advisable to give
effect to the terms of this Declaration and protect
and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of
the Holders (without consideration of the effect of
any such action on any particular Holder);
(J) to take all action that may be necessary
or appropriate for the preservation and the
continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights,
franchises and privileges as a statutory trust under
the laws of the State of Delaware to protect the
limited liability of the Holders of the Capital
Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the
purposes for which the Trust was created; and
(K) to undertake any actions set forth in
Section 317(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(iii) The Institutional Trustee shall have the power
and authority, and is hereby authorized, to act on behalf of
the Trust with respect to any of the duties, liabilities,
powers or the authority of the Administrators set forth in
Section 2.6(a)(i)(E) and (F) herein but shall not have a duty
to do any such act unless specifically requested to do so in
writing by the Sponsor, and shall then be fully protected in
acting pursuant to such written request; and in the event of a
conflict between the action of the Administrators and the
action of the Institutional Trustee, the action of the
Institutional Trustee shall prevail.
(b) So long as this Declaration remains in effect, the Trust
(or the Trustees or Administrators acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not
undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided
herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, neither the Trustees nor the
Administrators may cause the Trust to (i) acquire any investments or engage in
any activities not authorized by this Declaration, (ii) sell, assign, transfer,
exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust
Property or interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly
provided herein, (iii) take any action that would cause (or in the case of the
Institutional Trustee, to the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer would
cause) the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for United
States federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed
money or issue any other debt or (v) take or consent to any action that would
result in the placement of a lien on any of the Trust Property. The
Institutional Trustee shall, at the sole cost and expense of the Trust subject
to reimbursement under Section 9.6(a), defend all claims and demands of all
Persons at any time claiming any lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to
the interest of the Trust or the Holders in their capacity as Holders.
(c) In connection with the issuance and sale of the Capital
Securities, the Sponsor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the
Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any
actions taken by the Sponsor in furtherance of the following prior to the date
of this Declaration are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) the taking of any action necessary to obtain an
exemption from the Securities Act;
(ii) the determination of the States in which to take
appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part
of the Capital Securities and the determination of any and all
such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on
behalf of the Trust, and the advisement of and direction to
the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust,
and the preparation for execution and filing of any documents
to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the
Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to
comply with the applicable laws of any such States in
connection with the sale of the Capital Securities; and
(iii) the taking of any other actions necessary or
desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities.
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(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Administrators, the Institutional Trustee and the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized and directed to
conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that (i) the Trust
will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under
the Investment Company Act (in the case of the Institutional Trustee, to the
actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer); (ii) the Trust will not fail to be
classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes (in
the case of the Institutional Trustee, to the actual knowledge of a Responsible
Officer); and (iii) the Trust will not take any action inconsistent with the
treatment of the Debentures as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for United
States federal income tax purposes (in the case of the Institutional Trustee, to
the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer). In this connection, the
Institutional Trustee, the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized to take any action,
not inconsistent with applicable laws or this Declaration, as amended from time
to time, that each of the Institutional Trustee, the Administrators and such
Holders determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such
purposes, even if such action adversely affects the interests of the Holders of
the Capital Securities.
(e) All expenses incurred by the Administrators or the
Trustees pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be reimbursed by the Sponsor, and
the Trustees shall have no obligations with respect to such expenses.
(f) The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust
Property.
(g) Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all
times in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held
and administered by the Institutional Trustee for the benefit of the Trust in
accordance with this Declaration.
(h) If the Institutional Trustee or any Holder has instituted
any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Declaration and such
proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been
determined adversely to the Institutional Trustee or to such Holder, then and in
every such case the Sponsor, the Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall,
subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and
respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and
remedies of the Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though
no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 2.07. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the
Trustees.
The Trust shall not, and the Institutional Trustee and the
Administrators shall not, and the Administrators shall cause the Trust not to,
engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by this Declaration.
In particular, the Trust shall not, and the Institutional Trustee and the
Administrators shall not cause the Trust to:
(a) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the
Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders of the
Securities pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the
Securities;
(b) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided
herein;
(c) possess Trust Property for other than a Trust purpose;
(d) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans
represented by the Debentures;
(e) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to
vary the Trust Property or the terms of the Securities;
(f) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial
ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the
Securities; or
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(g) other than as provided in this Declaration (including
Annex I), (i) direct the time, method and place of exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the
Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the
Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul any declaration
that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or
(iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required unless
the Trust shall have received a written opinion of counsel experienced
in such matters to the effect that such amendment, modification or
termination will not cause the Trust to cease to be classified as a
grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
Section 2.08. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee.
(a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and
held of record in the name of the Institutional Trustee in trust for the benefit
of the Trust. The right, title and interest of the Institutional Trustee to the
Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be
appointed as Institutional Trustee in accordance with Section 4.7. Such vesting
and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents
with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered.
(b) The Institutional Trustee shall not transfer its right,
title and interest in the Debentures to the Administrators or to the Delaware
Trustee.
(c) The Institutional Trustee shall:
(i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest
bearing trust account (the "Property Account") in the United
States (as defined in Treasury Regulations section
301.7701-7), in the name of and under the exclusive control of
the Institutional Trustee, and maintained in the Institutional
Trustee's trust department, on behalf of the Holders of the
Securities and, upon the receipt of payments of funds made in
respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee,
deposit such funds into the Property Account and make payments
to the Holders of the Capital Securities and Holders of the
Common Securities from the Property Account in accordance with
Section 5.1. Funds in the Property Account shall be held
uninvested until disbursed in accordance with this
Declaration;
(ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall
be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the
Capital Securities and the Common Securities to the extent the
Debentures are redeemed or mature; and
(iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by
the Administrators in accordance with the terms of the
Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be
necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the
Debentures to Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of
certain circumstances pursuant to the terms of the Securities.
(d) The Institutional Trustee shall take all actions and
perform such duties as may be specifically required of the Institutional Trustee
pursuant to the terms of the Securities.
(e) The Institutional Trustee may bring or defend, pay,
collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action with respect to, or
otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against, the Trust (a "Legal Action")
which arise out of or in connection with an Event of Default of which a
Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee has actual knowledge or the
Institutional Trustee's duties and obligations under this Declaration or the
Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture
Issuer to pay interest or premium, if any, or principal on the Debentures on the
date such interest or premium, if any, or principal is otherwise payable (or in
the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of the Capital
Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to
such Holder of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the
Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount
of the Capital Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the
respective due date specified in the Debentures. In connection with such Direct
Action, the rights of the
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Holders of the Common Securities will be subrogated to the rights of such Holder
of the Capital Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture
Issuer to such Holder of the Capital Securities in such Direct Action; provided,
however, that a Holder of the Common Securities may exercise such right of
subrogation only if no Event of Default with respect to the Capital Securities
has occurred and is continuing.
(f) The Institutional Trustee shall continue to serve as a
Trustee until either:
(i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the
proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the Holders of the
Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities and this
Declaration (including Annex I); or
(ii) a Successor Institutional Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 4.7.
(g) The Institutional Trustee shall have the legal power to
exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Debentures
under the Indenture and, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the
Institutional Trustee may, for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce
its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders
pursuant to this Declaration (including Annex I) and the terms of the
Securities.
(h) The Institutional Trustee must exercise the powers set
forth in this Section 2.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and
functions of the Trust set out in Section 2.3, and the Institutional Trustee
shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions
of the Trust set out in Section 2.3.
Section 2.09. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the
Trustees and the Administrators.
(a) The Institutional Trustee, before the occurrence of any
Event of Default (of which the Institutional Trustee has knowledge (as provided
in Section 2.10(m) hereof)) and after the curing of all Events of Default that
may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be
read into this Declaration against the Institutional Trustee. In case an Event
of Default (of which the Institutional Trustee has knowledge (as provided in
Section 2.10(m) hereof)), has occurred (that has not been cured or waived
pursuant to Section 6.7), the Institutional Trustee shall exercise such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of
care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees and the
Administrators shall be as provided by this Declaration and, in the case of the
Institutional Trustee, by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no provision of this Declaration shall require any Trustee or
Administrator to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise
of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for
believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity satisfactory to it
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not
therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Declaration relating to
the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the
Trustees or the Administrators shall be subject to the provisions of this
Article. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to release a Trustee
from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act,
or its own willful misconduct. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to
release an Administrator from liability for its own gross negligent action, its
own gross negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct. To the extent
that, at law or in equity, a Trustee or an Administrator has duties and
liabilities relating to the Trust or to the Holders, such Trustee or
Administrator shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Holder for such
Trustee's or Administrator's good faith reliance on the provisions of this
Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they
restrict the duties and liabilities of the Administrators or the Trustees
otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Sponsor and the
Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Administrators or
the Trustees.
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(c) All payments made by the Institutional Trustee or a Paying
Agent in respect of the Securities shall be made only from the revenue and
proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be
sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the
Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the
terms hereof. Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Security, agrees that it will
look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent
legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the
Trustees and the Administrators are not personally liable to it for any amount
distributable in respect of any Security or for any other liability in respect
of any Security. This Section 2.9(c) does not limit the liability of the
Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Declaration or, in the case of
the Institutional Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act.
(d) No provision of this Declaration shall be construed to
relieve the Institutional Trustee from liability for its own negligent action,
its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct with respect to
matters that are within the authority of the Institutional Trustee under this
Declaration, except that:
(i) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for
any error or judgment made in good faith by an Authorized
Officer of the Institutional Trustee, unless it shall be
proved that the Institutional Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(ii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable
with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it
in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders
of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities or the Common Securities, as applicable,
relating to the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
Institutional Trustee under this Declaration;
(iii) the Institutional Trustee's sole duty with
respect to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation
of the Debentures and the Property Account shall be to deal
with such property in a similar manner as the Institutional
Trustee deals with similar property for its own account,
subject to the protections and limitations on liability
afforded to the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration
and the Trust Indenture Act;
(iv) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable
for any interest on any money received by it except as it may
otherwise agree in writing with the Sponsor; and money held by
the Institutional Trustee need not be segregated from other
funds held by it except in relation to the Property Account
maintained by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section
2.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise required by law;
and
(v) the Institutional Trustee shall not be
responsible for monitoring the compliance by the
Administrators or the Sponsor with their respective duties
under this Declaration, nor shall the Institutional Trustee be
liable for any default or misconduct of the Administrators or
the Sponsor.
Section 2.10. Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee. Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.9:
(a) the Institutional Trustee may conclusively rely and shall
fully be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any
resolution, written opinion of counsel, certificate, written representation of a
Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent,
order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or
presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Declaration,
the Institutional Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of
action, (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Declaration, the
Institutional Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other
provisions contained herein, or (iii) the Institutional Trustee is unsure of the
application of any provision of this Declaration, then, except as to any matter
as
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to which the Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote under the terms
of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee may deliver a notice to the
Sponsor requesting the Sponsor's opinion as to the course of action to be taken
and the Institutional Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking
such action, as the Institutional Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem
advisable and in the best interests of the Holders, in which event the
Institutional Trustee shall have no liability except for its own negligence or
willful misconduct;
(c) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Administrators
contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate;
(d) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the
Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
established before undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Institutional Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed)
may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon
an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly
delivered by the Sponsor or the Administrators;
(e) the Institutional Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or
continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any
rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof;
(f) the Institutional Trustee may consult with counsel of its
selection (which counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates)
and the advice of such 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 and in accordance with such advice; the
Institutional Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Declaration from any court of competent
jurisdiction;
(g) the Institutional Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at the
request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration, unless
such Holders shall have offered to the Institutional Trustee security or
indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and
liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction; provided, that nothing contained in this Section 2.10(g) shall be
taken to relieve the Institutional Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default (of which the Institutional Trustee has knowledge (as provided in
Section 2.10(m) hereof)) that has not been cured or waived, of its obligation to
exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration;
(h) the Institutional 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, consent, order,
approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper
or document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but
the Institutional Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into
such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(i) the Institutional Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or
through its agents or attorneys and the Institutional Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of, or for the
supervision of, any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder;
(j) whenever in the administration of this Declaration the
Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with
respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder,
the Institutional Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the
Common Securities and the Capital Securities, which instructions may be given
only by the Holders of the same proportion in liquidation amount of the Common
Securities and the Capital Securities as would be entitled to direct the
Institutional Trustee under the terms of the Common Securities and the Capital
Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from
enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such
instructions are received, and (iii) shall be fully protected in acting in
accordance with such instructions;
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(k) except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take
any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration;
(l) when the Institutional Trustee incurs expenses or renders
services in connection with a Bankruptcy Event, such expenses (including the
fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are
intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or
law relating to creditors rights generally;
(m) the Institutional Trustee shall not be charged with
knowledge of an Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the
Institutional Trustee has actual knowledge of such event or the Institutional
Trustee receives written notice of such event from any Holder, except with
respect to an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 5.01(a), 5.01(b) or 5.01(c)
of the Indenture (other than an Event of Default resulting from the default in
the payment of Additional Interest or premium, if any, if the Institutional
Trustee does not have actual knowledge or written notice that such payment is
due and payable), of which the Institutional Trustee shall be deemed to have
knowledge;
(n) any action taken by the Institutional Trustee or its
agents hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the
signature of the Institutional Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient
and effective to perform any such action and no third party shall be required to
inquire as to the authority of the Institutional Trustee to so act or as to its
compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of
which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Institutional Trustee's or its
agent's taking such action; and
(o) no provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose
any duty or obligation on the Institutional Trustee to perform any act or acts
or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in
any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Institutional
Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law,
to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Institutional
Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
Section 2.11. Delaware Trustee. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Declaration other than Section 4.2, the Delaware Trustee shall
not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any
of the duties and responsibilities of any of the Trustees or the Administrators
described in this Declaration (except as may be required under the Statutory
Trust Act). Except as set forth in Section 4.2, the Delaware Trustee shall be a
Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of
Section 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act.
Section 2.12. Execution of Documents. Unless otherwise
determined in writing by the Institutional Trustee, and except as otherwise
required by the Statutory Trust Act, the Institutional Trustee, or any one or
more of the Administrators, as the case may be, is authorized to execute and
deliver on behalf of the Trust any documents, agreements, instruments or
certificates that the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, have
the power and authority to execute pursuant to Section 2.6.
Section 2.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of
Securities. The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall
be taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to
the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The
Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this
Declaration, the Debentures or the Securities.
Section 2.14. Duration of Trust. The Trust, unless dissolved
pursuant to the provisions of Article VII hereof, shall have existence for five
(5) years from the Maturity Date.
Section 2.15. Mergers (a) The Trust may not consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease
its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or
other Person, except as described in this Section 2.15 and except with respect
to the distribution of Debentures to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section
7.1(a)(iv) of the Declaration or Section 4 of Annex I.
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(b) The Trust may, with the consent of the Administrators
(which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and without the consent of the
Institutional Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Holders of the Capital
Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any
State; provided, that:
(i) if the Trust is not the survivor, such successor
entity (the "Successor Entity") either:
(A) expressly assumes all of the obligations
of the Trust under the Securities; or
(B) substitutes for the Securities other
securities having substantially the same terms as the
Securities (the "Successor Securities") so that the
Successor Securities rank the same as the Securities
rank with respect to Distributions and payments upon
Liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
(ii) the Sponsor expressly appoints, as the holder of
the Debentures, a trustee of the Successor Entity that
possesses the same powers and duties as the Institutional
Trustee;
(iii) the Capital Securities or any Successor
Securities (excluding any securities substituted for the
Common Securities) are listed or quoted, or any Successor
Securities will be listed or quoted upon notification of
issuance, on any national securities exchange or with another
organization on which the Capital Securities are then listed
or quoted, if any;
(iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the
rating on the Capital Securities (including any Successor
Securities) to be downgraded or withdrawn by any nationally
recognized statistical rating organization, if the Capital
Securities are then rated;
(v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders
of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of
such Holders' interests in the Successor Entity as a result of
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement);
(vi) such Successor Entity has a purpose
substantially identical to that of the Trust;
(vii) prior to such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the
Trust has received a written opinion of a nationally
recognized independent counsel to the Trust experienced in
such matters to the effect that:
(A) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease does not adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of the Holders of the
Securities (including any Successor Securities) in
any material respect (other than with respect to any
dilution of the Holders' interests in the Successor
Entity);
(B) following such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity
will be required to register as an Investment
Company; and
(C) following such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease, the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will
continue to be classified as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes;
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(viii) the Sponsor guarantees the obligations of such
Successor Entity under the Successor Securities to the same
extent provided by the Indenture, the Guarantee, the
Debentures and this Declaration; and
(ix) prior to such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the
Institutional Trustee shall have received an Officers'
Certificate of the Administrators and an opinion of counsel,
each to the effect that all conditions precedent of this
paragraph (b) to such transaction have been satisfied.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 2.15(b), the Trust shall not,
except with the consent of Holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the
Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety to, any other Person or permit any other Person to
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such
consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease
would cause the Trust or Successor Entity to be classified as other than a
grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE III
SPONSOR
Section 3.01. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities. On the
Closing Date, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities issued by
the Trust, in an amount at least equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust, at the
same time as the Capital Securities are sold.
Section 3.02. Responsibilities of the Sponsor. In connection
with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the
exclusive right and responsibility to engage in, or direct the Administrators to
engage in, the following activities:
(a) to determine the States in which to take appropriate
action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and
to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the
Trust, and advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution
and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor
deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any
such States;
(b) to prepare for filing and request the Administrators to
cause the filing by the Trust, as may be appropriate, of an application to the
PORTAL system, for listing or quotation upon notice of issuance of any Capital
Securities, as requested by the Holders of not less than a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities; and
(c) to negotiate the terms of and/or execute and deliver on
behalf of the Trust, the Purchase Agreement and other related agreements
providing for the sale of the Capital Securities.
ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATORS
Section 4.01. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees
initially shall be two, and:
(a) at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the
Sponsor may, by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees;
and
(b) after the issuance of any Securities, the number of
Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the Holder of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of
the Holder of the Common Securities; provided, however, that there shall be a
Delaware Trustee if required by Section 4.2; and there shall always be one
Trustee who shall be the Institutional Trustee, and such
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Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the applicable
requirements, in which case Section 2.11 shall have no application to such
entity in its capacity as Institutional Trustee. Section 4.02. Delaware Trustee.
If required by the Statutory Trust Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee")
shall be:
(a) a natural person who is a resident of the State of
Delaware; or
(b) if not a natural person, an entity which is organized
under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of
Columbia, has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, and
otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, including Section 3807 of
the Statutory Trust Act.
Section 4.03. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility.(a) There
shall at all times be one Trustee which shall act as Institutional Trustee which
shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor;
(ii) not offer or provide credit or credit
enhancement to the Trust; and
(iii) be a banking corporation or national
association organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States of America or any State thereof or of the
District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and
surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000),
and subject to supervision or examination by federal, State or
District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or
national association publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the
supervising or examining authority referred to above, then for
the purposes of this Section 4.3(a)(iii), the combined capital
and surplus of such corporation or national association shall
be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth
in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Institutional Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.3(a), the Institutional Trustee shall
immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 4.7.
(c) If the Institutional Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Institutional Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or
resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this
Declaration.
(d) The initial Institutional Trustee shall be Wilmington
Trust Company.
Section 4.04. Certain Qualifications of the Delaware Trustee
Generally. The Delaware Trustee shall be a U.S. Person and either a natural
person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through
one or more Authorized Officers.
Section 4.05. Administrators. Each Administrator shall be a
U.S. Person. There shall at all times be at least one Administrator. Except
where a requirement for action by a specific number of Administrators is
expressly set forth in this Declaration and except with respect to any action
the taking of which is the subject of a meeting of the Administrators, any
action required or permitted to be taken by the Administrators may be taken by,
and any power of the Administrators may be exercised by, or with the consent of,
any one such Administrator acting alone.
Section 4.06. Initial Delaware Trustee. The initial Delaware
Trustee shall be Wilmington Trust Company.
Section 4.07. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the
Trustees and the Administrators.
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(a) No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant
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 this Section 4.7.
(b) Subject to Section 4.7(a), a Relevant Trustee may resign
at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders of the Securities
and by appointing a successor Relevant Trustee. Upon the resignation of the
Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall appoint a successor by
requesting from at least three Persons meeting the eligibility requirements
their expenses and charges to serve as the successor Institutional Trustee on a
form provided by the Administrators, and selecting the Person who agrees to the
lowest expense and charges (the "Successor Institutional Trustee"). If the
instrument of acceptance by the successor Relevant Trustee required by this
Section 4.7 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 60 days
after the giving of such notice of resignation or delivery of the instrument of
removal, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Trust, any
federal, State or District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after
prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Relevant
Trustee. The Institutional Trustee shall have no liability for the selection of
such successor pursuant to this Section 4.7.
(c) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by an act of the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities. If any Trustee shall be
so removed, the Holders of the Common Securities, by act of the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities delivered to the
Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee, and such
successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section
4.7. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed
by the act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on
behalf of the Trust). If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of Capital
Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities then outstanding delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall
promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor
Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.7. If no
successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and accepted
appointment in the manner required by this Section 4.7 within 30 days after
delivery of an instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee or any Holder who has
been a Holder of the Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of
himself and all others similarly situated, petition any federal, State or
District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Relevant Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such
notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or
Trustees.
(d) The Institutional Trustee shall give notice of each
resignation and each removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor
Trustee to all Holders and to the Sponsor. Each notice shall include the name of
the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if
it is the Institutional Trustee.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of
this Declaration, in the event a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies
or is adjudged by a court to have become incompetent or incapacitated, the
vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the
Institutional Trustee following the procedures in this Section 4.7 (with the
successor being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for a
Delaware Trustee set forth in this Declaration) (the "Successor Delaware
Trustee").
(f) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor
Relevant Trustee, the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant
Trustee with respect to the Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment
hereto wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and
which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to
transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect
to the Securities and the Trust and (ii) shall add to or change any of the
provisions of this Declaration as shall be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the administration of the Trust by more than one Relevant Trustee, it
being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall constitute such
Relevant Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution and delivery of such
amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall
become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Relevant
Trustee, without any further act, deed or
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conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties
of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any successor
Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds
thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect
to the Securities and the Trust subject to the payment of all unpaid fees,
expenses and indemnities of such retiring Relevant Trustee.
(g) No Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be
liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Institutional Trustee
or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
(h) The Holders of the Capital Securities will have no right
to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights
are vested exclusively in the Holders of the Common Securities.
(i) Any successor Delaware Trustee shall file an amendment to
the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
identifying the name and principal place of business of such Delaware Trustee in
the State of Delaware.
Section 4.08. Vacancies Among Trustees. If a Trustee ceases to
hold office for any reason and the number of Trustees is not reduced pursuant to
Section 4.1, or if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 4.1,
a vacancy shall occur. A resolution certifying the existence of such vacancy by
the Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the Trustees shall be
conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be
filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 4.7.
Section 4.09. Effect of Vacancies. The death, resignation,
retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation, incompetence or
incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to dissolve,
terminate or annul the Trust or terminate this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy
in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the
appointment of a Trustee in accordance with Section 4.7, the Institutional
Trustee shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge
all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration.
Section 4.10. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators.
Meetings of the Trustees or the Administrators shall be held from time to time
upon the call of any Trustee or Administrator, as applicable. Regular meetings
of the Trustees and the Administrators, respectively, may be in person in the
United States or by telephone, at a place (if applicable) and time fixed by
resolution of the Trustees or the Administrators, as applicable. Notice of any
in-person meetings of the Trustees or the Administrators shall be hand delivered
or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by
overnight courier) not less than 48 hours before such meeting. Notice of any
telephonic meetings of the Trustees or the Administrators or any committee
thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by
facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before
a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and
anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by
telephone) of a Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be, at a meeting
shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Trustee or an
Administrator, as the case may be, attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any activity on the ground that the meeting has
not been lawfully called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in this
Declaration, any action of the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may
be, may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees or the
Administrators present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote
with respect to such matter; provided, that, in the case of the Administrators,
a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of
the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be. Meetings of the Trustees
and the Administrators together shall be held from time to time upon the call of
any Trustee or Administrator.
Section 4.11. Delegation of Power. (a) Any Trustee or any
Administrator, as the case may be, may, by power of attorney consistent with
applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 that is
a U.S. Person his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents,
instruments or other writings contemplated in Section 2.6.
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(b) The Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to
time to such of their number or to any officer of the Trust that is a U.S.
Person, the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments or other
writings either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or
otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is
not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as
set forth herein.
Section 4.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession
to Business. Any Person into which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, may be merged or converted or with which either may
be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the
case may be, shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially
all the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, shall be the successor of the Institutional Trustee
or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, hereunder, without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto,
provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this
Article and, provided, further, that such Person shall file an amendment to the
Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as
contemplated in Section 4.7(i).
ARTICLE V
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 5.01. Distributions. Holders shall receive
Distributions in accordance with the applicable terms of the relevant Holder's
Securities. Distributions shall be made on the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities in accordance with the preferences set forth in their respective
terms. If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of
interest (including any Additional Interest or Deferred Interest) or premium, if
any, on and/or principal on the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee
(the amount of any such payment being a "Payment Amount"), the Institutional
Trustee shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available in the Property
Account for that purpose, to make a distribution (a "Distribution") of the
Payment Amount to Holders. For the avoidance of doubt, funds in the Property
Account shall not be distributed to Holders to the extent of any taxes payable
by the Trust, in the case of withholding taxes, as determined by the
Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent and, in the case of taxes other than
withholding taxes, as determined by the Administrators in a written notice to
the Institutional Trustee.
ARTICLE VI
ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES
Section 6.01. General Provisions Regarding Securities.
(a) The Administrators shall on behalf of the Trust issue one
series of capital securities, evidenced by a certificate substantially in the
form of Exhibit A-1, representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust and having such terms as are set forth in Annex I (the "Capital
Securities"), and one series of common securities, evidenced by a certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust and having such terms as are set forth in
Annex I (the "Common Securities"). The Trust shall issue no securities or other
interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Capital Securities and the
Common Securities. The Capital Securities rank pari passu and payment thereon
shall be made Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that, where an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common
Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights to payment of the
Holders of the Capital Securities.
(b) The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by
one or more Administrators. Such signature shall be the facsimile or manual
signature of any Administrator. In case any Administrator of the Trust who shall
have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Administrator before
the Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates
nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates
had not ceased to be such Administrator. Any Certificate may be signed on behalf
of the
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Trust by such person who, at the actual date of execution of such Certificate,
shall be an Administrator of the Trust, although at the date of the execution
and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such an Administrator. A
Capital Security shall not be valid until the Certificate evidencing it is
authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of an Authorized Officer of
the Institutional Trustee. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the
Certificate evidencing such Capital Security has been authenticated under this
Declaration. Upon written order of the Trust signed by one Administrator, the
Institutional Trustee shall authenticate one or more Certificates evidencing the
Capital Securities for original issue. The Institutional Trustee may appoint an
authenticating agent that is a U.S. Person acceptable to the Trust to
authenticate Certificates evidencing the Capital Securities. A Common Security
need not be so authenticated and shall be valid upon execution by one or more
Administrators.
(c) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance
of the Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust
and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust.
(d) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this
Declaration, the Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable, and each Holder thereof shall be entitled to the
benefits provided by this Declaration.
(e) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder in
accordance with the terms of this Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly
assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall be bound by, this Declaration and
the Guarantee.
Section 6.02. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Calculation Agent
and Registrar.
(a) The Trust shall maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an
office or agency where the Securities may be presented for payment (the "Paying
Agent"), and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for
registration of transfer or exchange (the "Transfer Agent"). The Trust shall
keep or cause to be kept at such office or agency a register (the "Securities
Register") for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers and exchanges
of Securities, such Securities Register to be held by a registrar (the
"Registrar"). The Administrators may appoint the Paying Agent, the Registrar and
the Transfer Agent, and may appoint one or more additional Paying Agents, one or
more co-Registrars, or one or more co-Transfer Agents in such other locations as
it shall determine. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional Paying
Agent, the term "Registrar" includes any additional Registrar or co-Registrar
and the term "Transfer Agent" includes any additional Transfer Agent or
co-Transfer Agent. The Administrators may change any Paying Agent, Transfer
Agent or Registrar at any time without prior notice to any Holder. The
Administrators shall notify the Institutional Trustee of the name and address of
any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar not a party to this Declaration.
The Administrators hereby initially appoint the Institutional Trustee to act as
Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Capital Securities and the
Common Securities at its Corporate Trust Office. The Institutional Trustee or
any of its Affiliates in the United States may act as Paying Agent, Transfer
Agent or Registrar.
(b) The Trust shall also appoint a Calculation Agent, which
shall determine the Coupon Rate in accordance with the terms of the Securities.
The Trust initially appoints the Institutional Trustee as Calculation Agent.
Section 6.03. Form and Dating.
(a) The Capital Securities shall be evidenced by one or more
Certificates and the Institutional Trustee's certificate of authentication
thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, and the Common
Securities shall be evidenced by one or more Certificates substantially in the
form of Exhibit A-2, each of which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made
a part of this Declaration. Certificates may be typed, printed, lithographed or
engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to
the Administrators, as conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof.
Certificates evidencing Securities may have letters, numbers, notations or other
marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements required
by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust is subject, if any,
or usage (provided, that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form
acceptable to the Sponsor). The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor shall
furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibit A-1 to the Institutional
Trustee in writing. Each Capital Security Certificate shall be
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dated the date of its authentication. The terms and provisions of the Securities
set forth in Annex I and the forms of Certificates set forth in Exhibits A-1 and
A-2 are part of the terms of this Declaration and to the extent applicable, the
Institutional Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrators and the Sponsor,
by their execution and delivery of this Declaration, expressly agree to such
terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. Capital Securities will be issued
only in blocks having an aggregate liquidation amount of not less than $100,000.
(b) The Capital Securities are being offered and sold by the
Trust pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in definitive form, registered in the
name of the Holder thereof, without coupons and with the Restricted Securities
Legend.
Section 6.04. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Certificates. If:
(a) any mutilated Certificate should be surrendered to the
Registrar, or if the Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and
(b) the related Holder shall deliver to the Registrar, the
Administrators and the Institutional Trustee such security or indemnity as may
be required by them to keep each of them harmless; then, in the absence of
notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser,
an Administrator on behalf of the Trust shall execute (and in the case of a
Capital Security Certificate, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate) and
deliver to such Holder, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like denomination.
In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 6.4,
the Registrar or the Administrators may require such Holder to pay a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection therewith. Any Certificate executed and delivered pursuant to this
Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the
relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.
Section 6.05. Temporary Certificates. Until definitive
Certificates are ready for delivery, the Administrators may prepare and execute
on behalf of the Trust and, in the case of Capital Security Certificates, the
Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, temporary Certificates. Temporary
Certificates shall be substantially in the form of definitive Certificates but
may have variations that the Administrators consider appropriate for temporary
Certificates. Without unreasonable delay, the Administrators shall prepare and
execute on behalf of the Trust and, in the case of the Capital Security
Certificates, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate definitive
Certificates in exchange for temporary Certificates.
Section 6.06. Cancellation. The Administrators at any time may
deliver Certificates evidencing Securities to the Institutional Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar shall forward to the Institutional Trustee any
Certificates evidencing Securities surrendered to it for registration of
transfer, redemption or payment. The Institutional Trustee shall promptly cancel
all Certificates surrendered for registration of transfer, payment, replacement
or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Certificates as the
Administrators direct. The Administrators may not issue new Certificates to
replace Certificates evidencing Securities that have been paid or, except for
Certificates surrendered for purposes of the transfer or exchange of the
Securities evidenced thereby, that have been delivered to the Institutional
Trustee for cancellation.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults.
(a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested
exclusively in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance
with Section 2.5, and the Holders shall not have any right or title therein
other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust
conferred by their Securities and they shall have no right to call for any
partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as
described below. The Securities shall be personal property giving only the
rights specifically set forth therein and in this Declaration. The Securities
shall have no, and the issuance of the Securities shall not be subject to,
preemptive or other similar rights and when issued and delivered to Holders
against payment of the purchase price therefor, the Securities will be fully
paid and nonassessable by the Trust.
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(b) For so long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding,
if, upon an Indenture Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.01(b), 5.01(e) or
5.01(f) of the Indenture the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not less
than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to declare the
principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the
Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities then outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a
notice in writing to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture
Trustee.
(c) At any time after the acceleration of maturity of the
Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the
money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as provided in the
Indenture, if the Institutional Trustee, subject to the provisions hereof, fails
to annul any such acceleration and waive such default, the Holders of not less
than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, by written
notice to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee, may
rescind and annul such acceleration and its consequences if:
(i) the Sponsor has paid or deposited with the
Debenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue installments of interest on
all of the Debentures;
(B) any accrued Deferred Interest on all of
the Debentures;
(C) all payments on any Debentures that have
become due otherwise than by such acceleration and
interest and Deferred Interest thereon at the rate
borne by the Debentures; and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the
Debenture Trustee under the Indenture and the
reasonable compensation, documented expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee
and the Institutional Trustee, their agents and
counsel; and
(ii) all Events of Default with respect to the
Debentures, other than the non-payment of the principal of or
premium, if any on the Debentures that has become due solely
by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in
Section 5.07 of the Indenture.
(d) The Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the
Capital Securities, waive any past Default or Event of Default, except a Default
or Event of Default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest
(unless such Default or Event of Default has been cured and a sum sufficient to
pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by
acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default or
Event of Default in respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding Debenture. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
(e) Upon receipt by the Institutional Trustee of written
notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by
Holders of any part of the Capital Securities, a record date shall be
established for determining Holders of outstanding Capital Securities entitled
to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on
the day the Institutional Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such
record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be
entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders
after such record date; provided, that, unless such declaration of acceleration,
or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by
virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day
that is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of
acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall
automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no
further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of
a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written
notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as
the case may be, that is identical to a written notice that has been canceled
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pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record
date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.7.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.7, the
Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive
any past Default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any
such Default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Default or Event
of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
ARTICLE VII
DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST
Section 7.01. Dissolution and Termination of Trust. (a) The
Trust shall dissolve on the first to occur of :
(i) unless earlier dissolved, on November 23, 2039,
the expiration of the term of the Trust;
(ii) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Sponsor,
the Trust or the Debenture Issuer;
(iii) (other than in connection with a merger,
consolidation or similar transaction not prohibited by the
Indenture, this Declaration or the Guarantee, as the case may
be) the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its
equivalent with respect to the Sponsor or upon the revocation
of the charter of the Sponsor and the expiration of 90 days
after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof;
(iv) the distribution of the Debentures to the
Holders of the Securities, upon exercise of the right of the
Holders of all of the outstanding Common Securities to
dissolve the Trust as provided in Annex I hereto;
(v) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of
any Holder of the Common Securities, the Sponsor, the Trust or
the Debenture Issuer;
(vi) when all of the Securities shall have been
called for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption
thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with
the terms of the Securities; or
(vii) before the issuance of any Securities, with the
consent of all of the Trustees and the Sponsor.
(b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event
referred to in Section 7.1(a), and after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Trust as required by applicable law, including Section 3808 of
the Statutory Trust Act, and subject to the terms set forth in Annex I, the
Institutional Trustee shall terminate the Trust by filing a certificate of
cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(c) The provisions of Section 2.9 and Article IX shall survive
the termination of the Trust.
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ARTICLE VIII
TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
Section 8.01. General. (a) Where a Holder of Capital
Securities delivers to the Registrar in accordance with this Declaration a
request to register a transfer of such Holder's Capital Securities or to
exchange them for an equal aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities
represented by different Certificates, the Registrar shall register the transfer
or make the exchange when the requirements specified in this Article VIII for
such transfer or exchange are met. To facilitate registrations of transfers and
exchanges, the Trust shall execute and the Institutional Trustee shall
authenticate Capital Security Certificates at the Registrar's request.
(b) Upon issuance of the Common Securities, the Sponsor shall
acquire and retain beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities and,
for so long as the Securities remain outstanding, the Sponsor shall maintain
100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted
successor of the Sponsor under the Indenture that is a U.S. Person may succeed
to the Sponsor's ownership of the Common Securities.
(c) Capital Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in
part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration
and in the terms of the Capital Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in
accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void and will be deemed to be
of no legal effect whatsoever and any such purported transferee shall be deemed
not to be the Holder of such Capital Securities for any purpose, including, but
not limited to, the receipt of Distributions on such Capital Securities, and
such transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital
Securities.
(d) The Registrar shall provide in the Securities Register for
the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities, which will be
effected without charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the
Registrar may reasonably require) in respect of any tax or other governmental
charges that may be imposed in relation to it. Upon its receipt of the documents
required under this Section 8.1(d) for registration of transfer of any
Securities, the Registrar shall register in the Securities Register, in the name
of the designated transferee or transferees, the Securities being transferred
and thereupon, for all purposes of this Declaration, such transfer shall be
effective and such transferee or transferees shall be, and such transferor shall
no longer be, the Holder of the transferred Securities. Upon the registration of
transfer of a Security pursuant to the terms of this Declaration in the name of
the new Holder thereof, such Security shall constitute the same Security as the
Security so transferred and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this
Declaration as the Security so transferred. The Registrar shall, and is
authorized to, record and register in the Securities Register the transfer of a
Security upon the Registrar's receipt of originals or copies (which may be by
facsimile or other form of electronic transmission) of (i) a written instrument
of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by
the Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, and (ii) if
such Security is being transferred other than in accordance with Section 8.4, a
certificate substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit B or C, as
applicable, hereto, executed by the transferor or transferee, as applicable;
thereupon, the Registrar is authorized to confirm in writing to the transferee
and, if requested, to the transferor of such Security that such transfer has
been registered in the Securities Register and that such transferee is the
Holder of such Security. The Certificate evidencing the Security so transferred,
duly endorsed by the transferor, shall be surrendered to the Registrar at the
time the transfer conditions specified in the immediately preceding sentence are
satisfied or within five (5) Business Days after the Registrar has registered
the transfer of such Security on the Securities Register, and promptly after
such surrender, an Administrator on behalf of the Trust shall execute and, in
the case of a Capital Security Certificate, the Institutional Trustee shall, and
is authorized to, authenticate a Certificate in the name of the transferee as
the new Holder of the Security evidenced thereby. Until the Certificate
evidencing the Security so transferred is surrendered to the Registrar, such
Security may not be transferred by such new Holder. Each Certificate surrendered
in connection with a registration of transfer shall be canceled by the
Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6. A transferee of a Security shall
be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder
upon the registration of such transfer in the Securities Register. Each such
transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration.
(e) Neither the Trust nor the Registrar shall be required (i)
to issue Certificates representing Securities or register the transfer of or
exchange any Securities, during a period beginning at the opening of business 15
days before the day of any selection of Securities for redemption and ending at
the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of
redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Securities to be
redeemed, or (ii) to register the transfer or exchange of any Security so
selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of
any Security being redeemed in part.
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Section 8.02. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions.
(a) The Certificates evidencing Capital Securities shall bear
the Restricted Securities Legend (as defined below), which shall not be removed
unless there is delivered to the Trust such satisfactory evidence, which may
include an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, as may be
reasonably required by the Trust, that neither the Restricted Securities Legend
nor the restrictions on transfer set forth therein are required to ensure that
transfers thereof comply with the provisions of the Securities Act or to ensure
that such Securities are not "restricted" within the meaning of Rule 144 under
the Securities Act. Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the
Institutional Trustee, at the written direction of the Trust, shall authenticate
and deliver Capital Securities Certificates that do not bear the Restricted
Securities Legend in exchange for the Capital Securities Certificates bearing
the Restricted Securities Language.
(b) Without the written consent of the Sponsor, Capital
Securities may only be transferred: (i) to a QIB if the instrument of transfer
is accompanied by a certificate of the transferor substantially in the form set
forth as Exhibit C hereto; or (ii) otherwise than to a QIB if the instrument of
transfer is accompanied by a certificate of the transferee substantially in the
form set forth as Exhibit B hereto. Each certificate furnished pursuant to this
Section 8.2(b) may be an original or a copy (which may be furnished by facsimile
or other form of electronic transmission).
(c) Except as permitted by Section 8.2(a), each Certificate
evidencing a Capital Security shall bear a legend (the "Restricted Securities
Legend") in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY
(A) TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
"QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS
OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE
IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) PURSUANT
TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN
"ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR
(7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS
OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT
PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY
DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT,
SUBJECT TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER,
SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (C) OR (D) ABOVE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF
AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO
EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST, A
COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST. THE HOLDER
OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES,
REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SECURITIES ACT.
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THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO
AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"),
(EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY
REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN
ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN,
UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE
UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23,
95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND
HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION
4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE
REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO
WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING
ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY
USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE,
OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE AND HOLDING WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION
UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO
APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY
WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER
INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN
BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF
$1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK
HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND
OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT
TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE
SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY.
(d) Capital Securities may only be transferred in minimum
blocks of $100,000 aggregate liquidation amount (100 Capital Securities) and
multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of Capital
Securities in a block having an aggregate liquidation amount of less than
$100,000 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such
purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a Holder of such Capital
Securities for any purpose, including, but not limited to, the receipt of
Distributions on such Capital Securities, and such purported transferee shall be
deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital Securities.
Section 8.03. Deemed Security Holders. The Trust, the
Administrators, the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the
Registrar may treat the Person in whose name any Security shall be registered on
the Securities Register of the Trust as the sole Holder and owner of such
Security for purposes of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes
whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or
other claim to or interest in such Security on the part of any other Person,
whether or not the Trust, the Administrators, the Trustees, the Paying Agent,
the Transfer Agent or the Registrar shall have actual or other notice thereof.
Section 8.04. Transfer of Initial Securities. Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII or any other provision of this
Declaration (including all Annexes and Exhibits hereto) to the contrary, any or
all of the Capital Securities initially issued to the Purchaser (the "Initial
Securities") may be transferred by the Purchaser to any transferee selected by
it that meets the parameters specified below and, upon delivery to the
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Registrar, of originals or copies (which may be by facsimile or other form of
electronic transmission) of a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably
satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Purchaser or the Purchaser's
attorney duly authorized in writing (it being understood that no signature
guarantee shall be required), then the Registrar shall, and is authorized to,
record and register on the Securities Register the transfer of such Initial
Securities to such transferee; thereupon, the Registrar is authorized to confirm
in writing to the transferee and, if requested, to the transferor of such
Initial Securities that such transfer has been registered in the Securities
Register and that such transferee is the Holder of such Initial Securities;
provided, however, that the Purchaser of the Initial Securities, by its
acceptance thereof, agrees that it may not transfer any Initial Securities to
any transferee that is not a permitted transferee as provided herein and in the
legend attached to the Certificate representing any Capital Security. The
Certificate evidencing the Initial Securities to be transferred, duly endorsed
by the Purchaser, shall be surrendered to the Registrar at the time the transfer
conditions specified in the immediately preceding sentence are satisfied or
within five (5) Business Days after the Registrar has registered the transfer of
such Initial Securities in the Securities Register, and promptly after such
surrender, an Administrator on behalf of the Trust shall execute and, in the
case of a Capital Security Certificate, the Institutional Trustee shall, and is
authorized to, authenticate a Certificate in the name of the transferee as the
new Holder of the Initial Securities evidenced thereby. Until the Certificate
evidencing the Initial Securities so transferred is surrendered to the
Registrar, such Initial Securities may not be transferred by such new Holder. No
other conditions, restrictions or other provisions of this Declaration or any
other document shall apply to a transfer of Initial Securities by the Purchaser.
ARTICLE IX
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS
Section 9.01. Liability. (a) Except as expressly set forth in
this Declaration, the Guarantee and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor
shall not be:
(i) personally liable for the return of any portion
of the capital contributions (or any return thereon) of the
Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from
assets of the Trust; and
(ii) required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of
the Securities any deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or
otherwise.
(b) The Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for
all of the debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the
Securities) to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets.
(c) Pursuant to Section 3803(a) of the Statutory Trust Act,
the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of
personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, except as
otherwise specifically set forth herein.
Section 9.02. Exculpation. (a) No Indemnified Person shall be
liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any
Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or
omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf
of the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be
within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this
Declaration or by law, except that an Indemnified Person (other than an
Administrator) shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by
reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions and except that an Administrator shall be
liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such
Administrator's gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts
or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying
in good faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert
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competence and, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected by
such Indemnified Person with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust,
including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and
amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses or any other facts pertinent
to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of
Securities might properly be paid.
Section 9.03. Fiduciary Duty. (a) To the extent that, at law
or in equity, an Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and
liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to any other Covered Person, an
Indemnified Person acting under this Declaration shall not be liable to the
Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good faith reliance on the
provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the
extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person
otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the duties imposed on the
Institutional Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act), are agreed by the parties
hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Indemnified Person.
(b) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is
permitted or required to make a decision:
(i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar
authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to
consider such interests and factors as it desires, including
its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to
give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting
the Trust or any other Person; or
(ii) in its "good faith" or under another express
standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such express
standard and shall not be subject to any other or different
standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable law.
Section 9.04. Indemnification. (a) (i) The Sponsor shall
indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by
reason of the fact that such Person is or was an Indemnified Person against
expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in connection
with such action, suit or proceeding if such Person acted in good faith and in a
manner such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful. The termination of
any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
had reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful.
(ii) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
Trust to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact
that such Person is or was an Indemnified Person against
expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and
reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with the
defense or settlement of such action or suit if such Person
acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Trust and except that no such indemnification shall be made in
respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such
Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to
the Trust unless and only to the extent that the Court of
Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit
was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, such Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which such Court of Chancery or
such other court shall deem proper.
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(iii) To the extent that an Indemnified Person shall
be successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal
of an action without prejudice or the settlement of an action
without admission of liability) in defense of any action, suit
or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this
Section 9.4(a), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, such Person shall be indemnified, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, against expenses (including
attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred
by such Person in connection therewith.
(iv) Any indemnification of an Administrator under
paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 9.4(a) (unless ordered
by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor only as authorized in
the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because
such Person has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in paragraphs (i) and (ii). Such determination shall be
made (A) by the Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum
consisting of such Administrators who were not parties to such
action, suit or proceeding, (B) if such a Quorum is not
obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a Quorum of
disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, or (C) by the Common Security
Holder of the Trust.
(v) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses
(including attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by an
Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding
referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 9.4(a)
shall be paid by the Sponsor in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of
an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to
repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that
such Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Sponsor
as authorized in this Section 9.4(a). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Sponsor if a
determination is reasonably and promptly made (1) in the case
of a Company Indemnified Person (A) by the Administrators by a
majority vote of a Quorum of disinterested Administrators, (B)
if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if
a Quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (C) by the
Common Security Holder of the Trust, that, based upon the
facts known to the Administrators, counsel or the Common
Security Holder at the time such determination is made, such
Indemnified Person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such
Person either believed to be opposed to or did not believe to
be in the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any
criminal proceeding, that such Indemnified Person believed or
had reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful, or
(2) in the case of a Fiduciary Indemnified Person, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion that, based
upon the facts known to the counsel at the time such
determination is made, such Indemnified Person acted in bad
faith or in a manner that such Indemnified Person either
believed to be opposed to or did not believe to be in the best
interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal
proceeding, that such Indemnified Person believed or had
reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful. In no
event shall any advance be made (i) to a Company Indemnified
Person in instances where the Administrators, independent
legal counsel or the Common Security Holder reasonably
determine that such Person deliberately breached such Person's
duty to the Trust or its Common or Capital Security Holders or
(ii) to a Fiduciary Indemnified Person in instances where
independent legal counsel promptly and reasonably determines
in a written opinion that such Person deliberately breached
such Person's duty to the Trust or its Common or Capital
Security Holders.
(b) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, each Indemnified Person from and against any and
all loss, damage, liability, tax (other than taxes based on the income of such
Indemnified Person), penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever
incurred by such Indemnified Person arising out of or in connection with or by
reason of the creation, administration or termination of the Trust, or any act
or omission of such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and
in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope
of authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration, except
that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any
loss, damage, liability, tax, penalty, expense or claim incurred by such
Indemnified Person by reason of negligence or willful misconduct with respect to
such acts or omissions.
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(c) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 9.4 shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification
and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors of the Sponsor or Capital Security
Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to action in such Person's official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. All
rights to indemnification under this Section 9.4 shall be deemed to be provided
by a contract between the Sponsor and each Indemnified Person who serves in such
capacity at any time while this Section 9.4 is in effect. Any repeal or
modification of this Section 9.4 shall not affect any rights or obligations then
existing.
(d) The Sponsor or the Trust may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was an Indemnified Person against
any liability asserted against such Person and incurred by such Person in any
such capacity, or arising out of such Person's status as such, whether or not
the Sponsor would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability
under the provisions of this Section 9.4.
(e) For purposes of this Section 9.4, references to "the
Trust" shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any
constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a
consolidation or merger, so that any Person who is or was a director, trustee,
officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the
request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or
agent of another entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions
of this Section 9.4 with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as such
Person would have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate
existence had continued.
(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 9.4 shall, unless otherwise provided
when authorized or ratified, continue as to a Person who has ceased to be an
Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such a Person.
(g) The provisions of this Section 9.4 shall survive the
termination of this Declaration or the earlier resignation or removal of the
Institutional Trustee. The obligations of the Sponsor under this Section 9.4 to
compensate and indemnify the Trustees and to pay or reimburse the Trustees for
expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness
hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that
of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustees
as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular
Capital Securities, provided, that the Sponsor is the Holder of the Common
Securities.
Section 9.05. Outside Businesses. Any Covered Person, the
Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee (subject to Section
4.3(c)) may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any
nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to
the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Securities shall
have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures
or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture,
even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful
or improper. None of any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee or
the Institutional Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular
investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a
character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any
Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee
shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner
or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment or other
opportunity. Any Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional
Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with
the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for,
trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities
or other obligations of the Sponsor or its Affiliates.
Section 9.06. Compensation; Fee. (a) The Sponsor agrees:
(i) to pay to the Trustees from time to time
such compensation for all services rendered by them
hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from
time to time (which compensation shall not be limited
by any provision of law in regard to the compensation
of a trustee of an express trust); and
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(ii) except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for
all reasonable, documented expenses, disbursements
and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in
accordance with any provision of this Declaration
(including the reasonable compensation and the
expenses and disbursements of their respective agents
and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement
or advance attributable to their negligence or
willful misconduct.
(b) The provisions of this Section 9.6 shall survive the
dissolution of the Trust and the termination of this Declaration and the removal
or resignation of any Trustee.
ARTICLE X
ACCOUNTING
Section 10.01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year (the "Fiscal
Year") of the Trust shall be the calendar year, or such other year as is
required by the Code.
Section 10.02. Certain Accounting Matters.
(a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the
Administrators shall keep, or cause to be kept at the principal office of the
Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations
section 301.7701-7, full books of account, records and supporting documents,
which shall reflect in reasonable detail each transaction of the Trust. The
books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of accounting, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
(b) The Sponsor shall cause the Administrators to deliver to
each Holder of the Securities: (i) each report on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, if
any, prepared by the Sponsor and any Subsidiaries (as defined in the Purchase
Agreement) and filed with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act,
within 90 days after the filing of each Form 10-K and within 30 days after the
filing of each Form 10-Q (or such earlier number of days prescribed by the
Commission for the filing of such Form by companies subject to the information
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act), (ii) if the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is not then (y) subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
or (z) exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) thereunder, the
information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act and the audited
annual financial statements of the Company and any Subsidiaries within 90 days
after the end of the Fiscal Year, and (iii) within 90 days after the end of each
Fiscal Year of the Trust, annual financial statements of the Trust, including a
balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the statements
of income or loss for the Fiscal Year then ended, that are prepared at the
principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of
Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7.
(c) The Administrators shall cause to be duly prepared and
delivered to each of the Holders of Securities Form 1099 or such other annual
United States federal income tax information statement required by the Code,
containing such information with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as
is required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right
under the Code to deliver any such statement at a later date, the Administrators
shall endeavor to deliver all such statements within 30 days after the end of
each Fiscal Year of the Trust.
(d) The Administrators shall cause to be duly prepared in the
United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section
301.7701-7, and filed an annual United States federal income tax return on a
Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal income tax law,
and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by the
Administrators on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority.
(e) So long as the only Holder or beneficial owner of the
Capital Securities is NBC Capital Markets Group, Inc. or an entity that holds a
pool of trust preferred securities, debt securities and/or similar securities or
a trustee thereof, the Administrators will cause the Sponsor's reports on FR
Y-9C to be delivered to the Holder promptly following their filing with the
Federal Reserve.
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Section 10.03. Banking. The Trust shall maintain one or more
bank accounts in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury
Regulations section 301.7701-7, in the name and for the sole benefit of the
Trust; provided, however, that all payments of funds in respect of the
Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee shall be made directly to the
Property Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the
Property Account. The sole signatories for such accounts (including the Property
Account) shall be designated by the Institutional Trustee.
Section 10.04. Withholding. The Institutional Trustee or any
Paying Agent and the Administrators shall comply with all withholding
requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Institutional
Trustee or any Paying Agent shall request, and each Holder shall provide to the
Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent, such forms or certificates as are
necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to the Holder,
and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the
Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent to assist it in determining the extent
of, and in fulfilling, its withholding obligations. The Administrators shall
file required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from
withholding is properly established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld
with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the
Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent is required to withhold and pay over
any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any
Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution to the Holder
in the amount of the withholding. In the event of any claimed overwithholding,
Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If
the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions
made, the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent may reduce subsequent
Distributions by the amount of such withholding.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
Section 11.01. Amendments. (a) Except as otherwise provided in
this Declaration or by any applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration
may only be amended by a written instrument approved and executed by
(i) the Institutional Trustee,
(ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers,
duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, the
Delaware Trustee,
(iii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers,
duties, obligations or immunities of the Administrators, the
Administrators, and
(iv) the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount
of the Common Securities.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article XI, no
amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and
ineffective:
(i) unless the Institutional Trustee shall have first
received
(A) an Officers' Certificate from each of
the Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is
permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
Declaration (including the terms of the Securities);
and
(B) an opinion of counsel (who may be
counsel to the Sponsor or the Trust) that such
amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms
of this Declaration (including the terms of the
Securities) and that all conditions precedent to the
execution and delivery of such amendment have been
satisfied; or
(ii) if the result of such amendment would be to
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(A) cause the Trust to cease to be
classified for purposes of United States federal
income taxation as a grantor trust;
(B) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the
powers of the Institutional Trustee in contravention
of the Trust Indenture Act;
(C) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an
Investment Company required to be registered under
the Investment Company Act; or
(D) cause the Debenture Issuer to be unable
to treat an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of
the Debentures as "Tier 1 Capital" (or its
equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy
guidelines of the Federal Reserve (or any successor
regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank
holding companies).
(c) Except as provided in Section 11.1(d), (e) or (g), no
amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and
ineffective, unless the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities shall have consented to such amendment.
(d) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in
this Declaration, without the consent of each affected Holder, this Declaration
may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the
Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required
to be made in respect of the Securities as of a specified date or (ii) restrict
the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment
on or after such date.
(e) Sections 9.1(b) and 9.1(c) and this Section 11.1 shall not
be amended without the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities.
(f) The rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities and
Common Securities, as applicable, under Article IV to increase or decrease the
number of, and appoint and remove, Trustees shall not be amended without the
consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities or Common Securities, as applicable.
(g) This Declaration may be amended by the Institutional
Trustee and the Holder of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common
Securities without the consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities to:
(i) cure any ambiguity;
(ii) correct or supplement any provision in this
Declaration that may be defective or inconsistent with any
other provision of this Declaration;
(iii) add to the covenants, restrictions or
obligations of the Sponsor; or
(iv) modify, eliminate or add to any provision of
this Declaration to such extent as may be necessary or
desirable, including, without limitation, to ensure that the
Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax
purposes at all times as a grantor trust and will not be
required to register as an Investment Company under the
Investment Company Act (including without limitation to
conform to any change in Rule 3a-5, Rule 3a-7 or any other
applicable rule under the Investment Company Act or written
change in interpretation or application thereof by any
legislative body, court, government agency or regulatory
authority) which amendment does not have a material adverse
effect on the right, preferences or privileges of the Holders
of Securities;
provided, however, that no such modification, elimination or addition referred
to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) shall adversely affect the powers,
preferences or rights of Holders of Capital Securities.
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Section 11.02. Meetings of the Holders of the Securities;
Action by Written Consent.
(a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be
called at any time by the Administrators (or as provided in the terms of the
Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of
Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of
the Securities or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital
Securities are listed or admitted for trading, if any. The Administrators shall
call a meeting of the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders
of not less than 10% in liquidation amount of such class of Securities. Such
direction shall be given by delivering to the Administrators one or more notices
in a writing stating that the signing Holders of the Securities wish to call a
meeting and indicating the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is
to be called. Any Holders of the Securities calling a meeting shall specify in
writing the Certificates held by the Holders of the Securities exercising the
right to call a meeting and only those Securities represented by such
Certificates shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the required
percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has been met.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of
the Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of
the Securities:
(i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all
the Holders of the Securities having a right to vote thereat
at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the date of
such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the
Holders of the Securities is permitted or required under this
Declaration or the rules of any stock exchange on which the
Capital Securities are listed or admitted for trading, if any,
such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of
the Holders of the Securities. Any action that may be taken at
a meeting of the Holders of the Securities may be taken
without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the
action so taken is signed by the Holders of the Securities
owning not less than the minimum liquidation amount of
Securities that would be necessary to authorize or take such
action at a meeting at which all Holders of the Securities
having a right to vote thereon were present and voting. Prompt
notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be
given to the Holders of the Securities entitled to vote who
have not consented in writing. The Administrators may specify
that any written ballot submitted to the Holders of the
Securities for the purpose of taking any action without a
meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time
specified by the Administrators;
(ii) each Holder of a Security may authorize any
Person to act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder
of Securities is entitled to participate, including waiving
notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a
meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11
months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the
proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the
Holder of the Securities executing it. Except as otherwise
provided herein, all matters relating to the giving, voting or
validity of proxies shall be governed by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies,
and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were
a Delaware corporation and the Holders of the Securities were
stockholders of a Delaware corporation; each meeting of the
Holders of the Securities shall be conducted by the
Administrators or by such other Person that the Administrators
may designate; and
(iii) unless the Statutory Trust Act, this
Declaration, the terms of the Securities, the Trust Indenture
Act or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which the
Capital Securities are then listed for trading, if any,
otherwise provides, the Administrators, in their sole
discretion, shall establish all other provisions relating to
meetings of Holders of Securities, including notice of the
time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is
to be voted on by any Holders of the Securities, waiver of any
such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the
establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting in
person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the
exercise of any such right to vote; provided, however, that
each meeting shall be conducted in the United States (as that
term is defined in Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7).
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ARTICLE XII
REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE
Section 12.01. Representations and Warranties of Institutional
Trustee. The Trustee that acts as initial Institutional Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and
the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Institutional Trustee's acceptance of
its appointment as Institutional Trustee, that:
(a) the Institutional Trustee is a banking corporation or
national association with trust powers, duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware or the United States of
America, respectively, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver,
and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this
Declaration;
(b) the Institutional Trustee has a combined capital and
surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000);
(c) the Institutional Trustee is not an Affiliate of the
Sponsor, nor does the Institutional Trustee offer or provide credit or credit
enhancement to the Trust;
(d) the execution, delivery and performance by the
Institutional Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all
necessary action on the part of the Institutional Trustee, and this Declaration
has been duly executed and delivered by the Institutional Trustee, and under
Delaware law (excluding any securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Institutional Trustee, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
moratorium, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
(regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(e) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Declaration by the Institutional Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a
breach of the charter or by-laws of the Institutional Trustee; and
(f) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration
with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority governing the trust
powers of the Institutional Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or
performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration.
Section 12.02. Representations and Warranties of Delaware
Trustee. The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the
Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its
appointment as Delaware Trustee that:
(a) if it is not a natural person, the Delaware Trustee is
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware;
(b) if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and
performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Delaware Trustee. This
Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee, and
under Delaware law (excluding any securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
moratorium, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
(regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(c) if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and
performance of this Declaration by the Delaware Trustee does not conflict with
or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Delaware Trustee;
145
(d) it has trust power and authority to execute and deliver,
and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this
Declaration;
(e) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration
with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority governing the trust
powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or
performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration; and
(f) the Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident
of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, it is an entity which has
its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and, in either case, a
Person that satisfies for the Trust the requirements of Section 3807 of the
Statutory Trust Act.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.01. Notices. All notices provided for in this
Declaration shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice,
and shall be delivered, telecopied (which telecopy shall be followed by notice
delivered or mailed by first class mail) or mailed by first class mail, as
follows:
(a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Administrators at
the Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust
may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities):
Evans Capital Trust I
14-16 N. Main Street
P.O. Box 191
Angola, New York 14006-0191
Attention: Mark DeBacker
Telephone: (716) 549-6623
(b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address
set forth below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice
of to the Holders of the Securities):
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001
Attention: Corporate Capital Markets
Telecopy: (302) 636-4140
Telephone: (302) 651-1000
(c) if given to the Institutional Trustee, at the
Institutional Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address
as the Institutional Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the
Securities):
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001
Attention: Corporate Capital Markets
Telecopy: (302) 636-4140
Telephone: (302) 651-1000
(d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the
mailing address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the
Holder of the Common Securities may give notice of to the Trust):
Evans Bancorp, Inc.
146
14-16 N. Main Street
P.O. Box 191
Angola, New York 14006-0191
Attention: Mark DeBacker
Telephone: (716) 549-6623
(e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on
the books and records of the Trust.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person,
telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage
prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot
be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such
notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of
such refusal or inability to deliver.
Section 13.02. Governing Law. This Declaration and the rights
and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in
accordance with the law of the State of Delaware and all rights, obligations and
remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to the principles of
conflict of laws of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction that would
call for the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of
Delaware.
Section 13.03. Submission to Jurisdiction.
(a) Each of the parties hereto agrees that any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or based upon this Declaration, or the transactions
contemplated hereby, may be instituted in any of the courts of the State of New
York and the United States District Courts, in each case located in the Borough
of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and further agrees to submit to the
jurisdiction of any competent court in the place of its corporate domicile in
respect of actions brought against it as a defendant. In addition, each such
party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection
which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of such suit,
action or proceeding brought in any such court and irrevocably waives any claim
that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum and irrevocably waives any right to which it
may be entitled on account of its place of corporate domicile. Each such party
hereby irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any legal
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Declaration or the transactions
contemplated hereby. Each such party agrees that final judgment in any
proceedings brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon it and
may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which it is subject by a
suit upon such judgment.
(b) Each of the Sponsor, the Trustees, the Administrators and
the Holder of the Common Securities irrevocably consents to the service of
process on it in any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court by the
mailing thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at its
address given in or pursuant to Section 13.1 hereof.
(c) To the extent permitted by law, nothing herein contained
shall preclude any party from effecting service of process in any lawful manner
or from bringing any suit, action or proceeding in respect of this Declaration
in any other state, country or place.
Section 13.04. Intention of the Parties. It is the intention
of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified for United States federal
income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions of this Declaration shall
be interpreted to further this intention of the parties.
Section 13.05. Headings. Headings contained in this
Declaration are inserted for convenience of reference only and do not affect the
interpretation of this Declaration or any provision hereof.
Section 13.06. Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this
Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or referred to, the successors
and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and all covenants
147
and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor and the Trustees shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether or
not so expressed.
Section 13.07. Partial Enforceability. If any provision of
this Declaration, or the application of such provision to any Person or
circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Declaration, or the
application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to
which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.
Section 13.08. Counterparts. This Declaration may contain more
than one counterpart of the signature page and this Declaration may be executed
by the affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees and Administrators to
any of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages
shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as
though all of the signers had signed a single signature page.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this
Declaration to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Delaware Trustee
By: /s/Denise M. Geran
------------------
Name: Denise M. Geran
Title: Vice President
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Institutional Trustee
By: /s/Denise M. Geran
------------------
Name: Denise M. Geran
Title: Vice President
EVANS BANCORP, INC.
as Sponsor
By: /s/James Tilley
---------------
Name: James Tilley
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
By: /s/James Tilley
---------------
James Tilley
Administrator
By: /s/Mark DeBacker
----------------
Mark DeBacker
Administrator
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ANNEX I
TERMS OF
FLOATING RATE CAPITAL SECURITIES AND
FLOATING RATE COMMON SECURITIES
Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust, dated as of October 1, 2004 (as amended from time to time,
the "Declaration"), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions,
preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities and the
Common Securities are set out below (each capitalized term used but not defined
herein has the meaning set forth in the Declaration):
1. Designation and Number.
(a) Capital Securities. 11,000 Capital Securities of Evans
Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), with an aggregate stated liquidation amount with
respect to the assets of the Trust of Eleven Million Dollars ($11,000,000) and a
stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per
Capital Security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only
as the "Floating Rate Capital Securities" (the "Capital Securities"). The
Capital Security Certificates evidencing the Capital Securities shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Declaration, with such changes
and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary
usage, custom or practice or to conform to the rules of any stock exchange on
which the Capital Securities are listed, if any.
(b) Common Securities. 341 Common Securities of the Trust (the
"Common Securities") will be evidenced by Common Security Certificates
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes
and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary
usage, custom or practice. In the absence of an Event of Default, the Common
Securities will have an aggregate stated liquidation amount with respect to the
assets of the Trust of Three Hundred Forty One Thousand Dollars ($341,000) and a
stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per
Common Security.
2. Distributions. (a) Distributions payable on each Security
will be payable at a variable per annum rate of interest which, with respect to
any Distribution Period (as defined herein), will be equal to LIBOR, as
determined on the LIBOR Determination Date for such Distribution Period (except
in the case of the first Distribution Period), plus 2.65% (such variable per
annum rate not to exceed 12.0% per annum for any Distribution Period ending on
or prior to the Distribution Payment Date in November 2009) (the "Coupon Rate"),
such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the
Institutional Trustee. Except as set forth below in respect of an Extension
Period, Distributions in arrears for more than one Distribution Period will bear
interest thereon compounded quarterly at the applicable Coupon Rate for each
such Distribution Period (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term
"Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions, any such compounded
distributions and any Additional Interest payable on the Debentures unless
otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are
made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the
extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available in the Property Account
therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any Distribution Period will
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed
in the relevant Distribution Period; provided, however, that upon the occurrence
of a Special Event redemption pursuant to paragraph 4(a) below the amounts
payable pursuant to this Declaration shall be calculated as set forth in the
definition of Special Redemption Price.
The term "Distribution Period" means the period from and
including each Distribution Payment Date or, in the case of the first
Distribution Period, the original date of issuance of the Securities to, but
excluding, the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date or, in the case of the
last Distribution Period, the Redemption Date, Special Redemption Date or
Maturity Date, as applicable.
(b) LIBOR shall be determined by the Calculation Agent for
each Distribution Period in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) On the second LIBOR Business Day (provided, that
on such day commercial banks are open for business (including
dealings in foreign currency deposits) in London (a
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"LIBOR Banking Day"), and otherwise the next preceding LIBOR
Business Day that is also a LIBOR Banking Day) prior to
February 23, May 23, August 23 and November 23, as the case
may be, immediately preceding the commencement of such
Distribution Period (or, in the case of the first Distribution
Period, prior to October 1, 2004), (each such day, a "LIBOR
Determination Date"), LIBOR shall equal the rate, as obtained
by the Calculation Agent for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits
in Europe, which appears on Telerate (as defined in the
International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. 2000
Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions) Page 3750 or
such other page as may replace such Telerate Page 3750, as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date, as
reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets Commodities News (or
any successor service); provided, however, that in the case of
the first Distribution Period, LIBOR will be interpolated from
LIBOR for one-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe and LIBOR
for two-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe on a
straight-line basis. "LIBOR Business Day" means any day that
is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial
banking institutions in New York, New York or Wilmington,
Delaware are authorized or obligated by law or executive order
to be closed. If such rate is superseded on Telerate Page 3750
by a corrected rate before 12:00 noon (London time) on the
same LIBOR Determination Date, the corrected rate as so
substituted will be the applicable LIBOR for that LIBOR
Determination Date.
(2) If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate
does not appear on Telerate Page 3750 as reported by Bloomberg
Financial Markets Commodities News or such other page as may
replace such Telerate Page 3750, the Calculation Agent shall
determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the
Reference Banks (as defined below) to leading banks in the
London interbank market for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits
in Europe (in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent)
by reference to requests for quotations as of approximately
11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date made
by the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks. If, on any
LIBOR Determination Date, at least two of the Reference Banks
provide such quotations, LIBOR shall equal the arithmetic mean
of such quotations. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, only
one or none of the Reference Banks provide such a quotation,
LIBOR shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered
quotations that at least two leading banks in the City of New
York (as selected by the Calculation Agent) are quoting on the
relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month U.S. Dollar
deposits in Europe at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time)
(in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent). As used
herein, "Reference Banks" means four major banks in the London
interbank market selected by the Calculation Agent.
(3) If the Calculation Agent is required but is
unable to determine a rate in accordance with at least one of
the procedures provided above, LIBOR shall be LIBOR in effect
on the previous LIBOR Determination Date (whether or not LIBOR
for such period was in fact determined on such LIBOR
Determination Date).
(c) All percentages resulting from any calculations on the
Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded
upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)),
and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be
rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).
(d) On each LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent
shall notify, in writing, the Sponsor and the Paying Agent of the applicable
Coupon Rate in effect for the related Distribution Period. The Calculation Agent
shall, upon the request of the Holder of any Securities, provide the Coupon Rate
then in effect. All calculations made by the Calculation Agent in the absence of
manifest error shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Sponsor
and the Holders of the Securities. The Paying Agent shall be entitled to rely on
information received from the Calculation Agent or the Sponsor as to the Coupon
Rate. The Sponsor shall, from time to time, provide any necessary information to
the Paying Agent relating to any original issue discount and interest on the
Securities that is included in any payment and reportable for taxable income
calculation purposes.
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(e) Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will
accrue from the date of original issuance, and will be payable, subject to
extension of Distribution Periods as described herein, quarterly in arrears on
February 23, May 23, August 23 and November 23 of each year, commencing on
November 23, 2004 (each, a "Distribution Payment Date"). The Debenture Issuer
has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive
quarterly periods (each, an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to
time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below. During any
Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and
interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon
referred to herein as "Deferred Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal
to the Coupon Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded
quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it
not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No Extension
Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of
any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all Deferred Interest
then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures; provided, however, that no Extension
Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special
Redemption Date and provided, further, that, during any such Extension Period,
the Debenture Issuer may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions
on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock, (ii) make any payment due on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Debenture Issuer that
rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures or
(C) make any payment under any guarantees of the Debenture Issuer that rank pari
passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Guarantee (other than
(a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of
the Debenture Issuer (I) in connection with any employment contract, benefit
plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more
employees, officers, directors or consultants, (II) in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (III) in connection
with the issuance of capital stock of the Debenture Issuer (or securities
convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an
acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of (I), (II) or
(III) above, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or
series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock (or any capital stock of a
subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer) for any class or series of the Debenture
Issuer's capital stock or of any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's
indebtedness for any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock,
(c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Debenture Issuer's
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital
stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto or (e) any dividend in the
form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the
stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the
same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with
or junior in interest to such stock). Prior to the termination of any Extension
Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided, that such
period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions
thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods. Upon the termination
of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the
Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing
requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest (except any Additional Interest
that may be due and payable) shall be due and payable during an Extension
Period, except at the end thereof, but interest shall accrue upon each
installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during
such Extension Period until such installment is paid. If Distributions are
deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related
Extension Period terminates, or, if such date is not a Distribution Payment
Date, on the immediately following Distribution Payment Date, to Holders of the
Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record
date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be
paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the
extent that the Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such
distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available
for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments
received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys
held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee.
(f) Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the
Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Registrar on the
relevant record dates. The relevant record dates shall be selected by the
Administrators, which dates shall be 15 days before the relevant payment dates.
Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any
Distribution Payment Date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer having failed to
make a payment under the Debentures, as the case may be, when due (taking into
account any Extension Period), will cease to be payable to the Person in whose
name such Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such
defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such
Securities are
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registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in
accordance with the Indenture. If any Distribution Payment Date other than any
date of redemption, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then
Distributions payable will be paid on, and such Distribution Payment Date will
be moved to, the next succeeding Business Day, and additional Distributions will
accrue for each day that such payment is delayed as a result thereof.
(g) In the event that there is any money or other property
held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property
shall be distributed pro rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the
Securities.
3. Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution. In the event of
the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination
of the Trust (each, a "Liquidation") other than in connection with a redemption
of the Debentures, the Holders of the Securities will be entitled to receive out
of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of the
Securities, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (to the
extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer), distributions equal to the
aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Security plus accrued
and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the
"Liquidation Distribution"), unless in connection with such Liquidation, the
Debentures in an aggregate stated principal amount equal to the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of such Securities, with an interest rate equal to the Coupon
Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the
accrued and unpaid Distributions on, and having the same record date as, such
Securities, after paying or making reasonable provision to pay all claims and
obligations of the Trust in accordance with Section 3808(e) of the Statutory
Trust Act, shall be distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the
Securities in exchange for such Securities.
The Sponsor, as the Holder of all of the Common Securities,
has the right at any time to dissolve the Trust (including without limitation
upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital
Treatment Event), subject to the receipt by the Debenture Issuer of prior
approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal
Reserve"), if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of
the Federal Reserve and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the
Trust, cause the Debentures to be distributed to the Holders of the Securities
on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with the aggregate stated liquidation amount
thereof.
The Trust shall dissolve on the first to occur of (i) November
23, 2039, the expiration of the term of the Trust, (ii) a Bankruptcy Event with
respect to the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer, (iii) (other than in
connection with a merger, consolidation or similar transaction not prohibited by
the Indenture, this Declaration or the Guarantee, as the case may be) the filing
of a certificate of dissolution of the Sponsor or upon the revocation of the
charter of the Sponsor and the expiration of 90 days after the date of
revocation without a reinstatement thereof, (iv) the distribution to the Holders
of the Securities of the Debentures, upon exercise of the right of the Holder of
all of the outstanding Common Securities to dissolve the Trust as described
above, (v) the entry of a decree of a judicial dissolution of the Sponsor or the
Trust, or (vi) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption
and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof shall have been paid to the
Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities. As soon as practicable
after the dissolution of the Trust and upon completion of the winding up of the
Trust, the Trust shall terminate upon the filing of a certificate of
cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
If a Liquidation of the Trust occurs as described in clause
(i), (ii), (iii) or (v) in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Trust shall
be liquidated by the Institutional Trustee of the Trust as expeditiously as such
Trustee determines to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to the
Holders of the Securities, the Debentures on a Pro Rata basis to the extent not
satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, unless such distribution is determined by the
Institutional Trustee not to be practical, in which event such Holders will be
entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to
the Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust to the
extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, an amount equal to the Liquidation
Distribution. An early Liquidation of the Trust pursuant to clause (iv) of the
immediately preceding paragraph shall occur if the Institutional Trustee
determines that such Liquidation is possible by distributing, after satisfaction
of liabilities to creditors of Trust, to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro
Rata basis, the Debentures, and such distribution occurs.
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If, upon any such Liquidation, the Liquidation Distribution
can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to
pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable
directly by the Trust on such Capital Securities shall be paid to the Holders of
the Securities on a Pro Rata basis, except that if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities shall have a preference over
the Common Securities with regard to such distributions.
Upon any such Liquidation of the Trust involving a
distribution of the Debentures, if at the time of such Liquidation, the Capital
Securities were rated by at least one nationally-recognized statistical rating
organization, the Debenture Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to
obtain from at least one such or other rating organization a rating for the
Debentures.
After the date for any distribution of the Debentures upon
dissolution of the Trust, (i) the Securities of the Trust will be deemed to be
no longer outstanding, (ii) any certificates representing the Capital Securities
will be deemed to represent undivided beneficial interests in such of the
Debentures as have an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the distribution rate
of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid
distributions on, the Securities until such certificates are presented to the
Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissuance (and until such
certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal shall be
made to Holders of Securities in respect of any payments due and payable under
the Debentures) and (iii) all rights of Holders of Securities under the Capital
Securities or the Common Securities, as applicable, shall cease, except the
right of such Holders to receive Debentures upon surrender of certificates
representing such Securities.
4. Redemption and Distribution.
(a) The Debentures will mature on November 23, 2034. The
Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, on any
February 23, May 23, August 23 and November 23 on or after November 23, 2009, at
the Redemption Price, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to
Holders of such Debentures. In addition, upon the occurrence and continuation of
a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event, the
Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer in whole but not in part, at
any time within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, Investment
Company Event or Capital Treatment Event, as the case may be (the "Special
Redemption Date"), at the Special Redemption Price, upon not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days' notice to Holders of the Debentures so long as such Tax
Event, Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment Event, as the case may be,
is continuing. In each case, the right of the Debenture Issuer to redeem the
Debentures is subject to the Debenture Issuer having received prior approval
from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines
or policies of the Federal Reserve.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the
Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that,
as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective
change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of
any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling,
technical advice memorandum, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement)(an
"Administrative Action") or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws
or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial
decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Debenture
Issuer or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which
amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted,
promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance
of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust
is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United
States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the
Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Debenture Issuer on the Debentures is
not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by
the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax
purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, subject to or otherwise required to pay, or required to withhold from
distributions to holders of Trust Securities, more than a de minimis amount of
other taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other
governmental charges.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Debenture
Issuer and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the
effect that, as a result of a change in law or regulation or written change in
interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body,
court, governmental
154
agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that
the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be, considered
an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment
Company Act, which change becomes effective on or after the date of the original
issuance of the Debentures.
"Capital Treatment Event" means the receipt by the Debenture
Issuer and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the
effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws, rules or
regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or
therein, or as the result of any official or administrative pronouncement or
action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations,
which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or
decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the
Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Debenture Issuer
will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be entitled to treat an
amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities as
"Tier 1 Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital
adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve (or any successor regulatory
authority with jurisdiction over bank holding companies), as then in effect and
applicable to the Debenture Issuer; provided, however, that the distribution of
the Debentures in connection with the Liquidation of the Trust by the Debenture
Issuer shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless
such Liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an
Investment Company Event. For the avoidance of doubt, the adoption by the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as a final rule of any of the
proposals set forth in its notice of proposed rulemaking dated May 6, 2004,
shall not constitute a Capital Treatment Event.
"Special Event" means any of a Capital Treatment Event, a Tax
Event or an Investment Company Event.
"Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the
Debentures being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Debentures to
the Redemption Date or, in the case of a redemption in full at maturity, the
Maturity Date, or, in the case of a redemption due to the occurrence of a
Special Event, to the Special Redemption Date.
"Special Redemption Price" means the Redemption Price.
"Redemption Date" means the date fixed for the redemption of
Capital Securities, which shall be any February 23, May 23, August 23 and
November 23 on or after November 23, 2009.
(b) Upon the repayment in full at maturity or redemption in
whole or in part of the Debentures (other than following the distribution of the
Debentures to the Holders of the Securities), the proceeds from such repayment
or payment shall concurrently be applied to redeem Pro Rata at the applicable
Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as the case may be, Securities
having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount
of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed; provided, however, that holders of such
Securities shall be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice of such
redemption (other than at the scheduled maturity of the Debentures).
(c) If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so
redeemed, the Common Securities and the Capital Securities will be redeemed Pro
Rata and the Capital Securities to be redeemed will be as described in Section
4(e)(ii) below.
(d) The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding
Capital Securities unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on
all Capital Securities for all Distribution Periods terminating on or before the
date of redemption.
(e) Redemption or Distribution Procedures.
(i) Notice of any redemption of, or notice of
distribution of the Debentures in exchange for, the Securities (a
"Redemption/Distribution Notice") will be given by the Trust by mail to
each Holder of Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30
nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange
thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for
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redemption of the Debentures. For purposes of the calculation of the
date of redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given
pursuant to this Section 4(e)(i), a Redemption/Distribution Notice
shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of such Securities. Each
Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the Holders of
such Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing on the
books and records of the Registrar. No defect in the
Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing thereof with respect
to any Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption or exchange
proceedings with respect to any other Holder.
(ii) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding
Securities are to be redeemed, the Securities to be redeemed shall be
redeemed Pro Rata from each Holder of Capital Securities.
(iii) If the Securities are to be redeemed and the
Trust gives a Redemption/Distribution Notice, which notice may only be
issued if the Debentures are redeemed as set out in this Section 4
(which notice will be irrevocable), then, provided, that the
Institutional Trustee has a sufficient amount of cash in connection
with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the
Institutional Trustee will pay the relevant redemption price to the
Holders of such Securities by check mailed to the address of each such
Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the
redemption date. If a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been
given and funds deposited as required, then immediately prior to the
close of business on the date of such deposit, Distributions will cease
to accrue on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights of
Holders of such Securities so called for redemption will cease, except
the right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the applicable
redemption price specified in Section 4(a), but without interest on
such redemption price. If any date fixed for redemption of Securities
is not a Business Day, then payment of any such redemption price
payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a
Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of
any such delay) except that, if such Business Day falls in the next
calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding
Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on
such date fixed for redemption. If payment of the redemption price in
respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not
paid either by the Trust or by the Debenture Issuer as guarantor
pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Securities will
continue to accrue at the then applicable rate from the original
redemption date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual
payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for
purposes of calculating the redemption price. In the event of any
redemption of the Capital Securities issued by the Trust in part, the
Trust shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or
exchange any Security during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before any selection for redemption of the Capital
Securities and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on
which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to
all Holders of the Capital Securities to be so redeemed or (ii)
register the transfer of or exchange any Capital Securities so selected
for redemption, in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion
of any Capital Securities being redeemed in part.
(iv) Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by
the Administrators on behalf of the Trust (A) in respect of the Capital
Securities, to the Holders thereof, and (B) in respect of the Common
Securities, to the Holder thereof.
(v) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law
(including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws),
and provided, that the acquiror is not the Holder of the Common
Securities or the obligor under the Indenture, the Sponsor or any of
its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase
outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or by
private agreement.
5. Voting Rights - Capital Securities. (a) Except as provided
under Sections 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration,
the Holders of the Capital Securities will have no voting rights. The
Administrators are required to call a meeting of the Holders of the Capital
Securities if directed to do so by Holders of not less than 10% in liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities.
(b) Subject to the requirements of obtaining a tax opinion by
the Institutional Trustee in certain circumstances set forth in the last
sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount
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of the Capital Securities, voting separately as a class, have the right to
direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including the
right to direct the Institutional Trustee, as holder of the Debentures, to (i)
exercise the remedies available under the Indenture as the holder of the
Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture,
(iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of
all the Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent on behalf of all the
Holders of the Capital Securities to any amendment, modification or termination
of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required;
provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the Indenture would
require the consent or act of the holders of greater than a simple majority in
principal amount of Debentures (a "Super Majority") affected thereby, the
Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the
written direction of the Holders of not less than the proportion in liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities outstanding which the relevant Super Majority
represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. If
the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Debentures after
the Holders of a Majority or Super Majority, as the case may be, in liquidation
amount of such Capital Securities have so directed the Institutional Trustee, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, a Holder of the Capital Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer to enforce
the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Debentures without first
instituting any legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other
person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the
Debenture Issuer to pay interest or premium, if any, on or principal of the
Debentures on the date the interest, premium, if any, or principal is payable
(or in the case of redemption, the redemption date), then a Holder of record of
the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of
payment, on or after the respective due dates specified in the Debentures, to
such Holder directly of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the
Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder. The Institutional
Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital Securities of any default
actually known to the Institutional Trustee with respect to the Debentures
unless (x) such default has been cured prior to the giving of such notice or (y)
the Institutional Trustee determines in good faith that the withholding of such
notice is in the interest of the Holders of such Capital Securities, except
where the default relates to the payment of principal of or interest on any of
the Debentures. Such notice shall state that such Indenture Event of Default
also constitutes an Event of Default hereunder. Except with respect to directing
the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a remedy, the
Institutional Trustee shall not take any of the actions described in clause (i),
(ii) or (iii) above unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of
tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not
be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.
In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the
holder of the Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any
amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture, the Institutional
Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the Securities
with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with
respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a Majority
in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class;
provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require the
consent of a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such
consent at the written direction of the Holders of not less than the proportion
in liquidation amount of such Securities outstanding which the relevant Super
Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
outstanding. The Institutional Trustee shall not take any such action in
accordance with the written directions of the Holders of the Securities unless
the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect
that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than
a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a
waiver of the corresponding Event of Default hereunder. Any required approval or
direction of Holders of the Capital Securities may be given at a separate
meeting of Holders of the Capital Securities convened for such purpose, at a
meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to
written consent. The Institutional Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at
which Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter
upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be
mailed to each Holder of record of the Capital Securities. Each such notice will
include a statement setting forth the following information (i) the date of such
meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of
any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are
entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and
(iii) instructions for the
157
delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the
Capital Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Capital
Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration
and the terms of the Securities.
Notwithstanding that Holders of the Capital Securities are
entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any
of the Capital Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the
Sponsor shall not entitle the Holder thereof to vote or consent and shall, for
purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if such Capital Securities were
not outstanding.
In no event will Holders of the Capital Securities have the
right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting
rights are vested exclusively in the Sponsor as the Holder of all of the Common
Securities of the Trust. Under certain circumstances as more fully described in
the Declaration, Holders of Capital Securities have the right to vote to
appoint, remove or replace the Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.
6. Voting Rights - Common Securities. (a) Except as provided
under Sections 6(b), 6(c) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the
Declaration, the Common Securities will have no voting rights.
(b) The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in
accordance with Article IV of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or
replace any Administrators.
(c) Subject to Section 6.7 of the Declaration and only after
each Event of Default (if any) with respect to the Capital Securities has been
cured, waived or otherwise eliminated and subject to the requirements of the
second to last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Common Securities, voting separately as a class, may
direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including (i)
directing the time, method, place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
on the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waiving any past
default and its consequences that are waivable under the Indenture, or (iii)
exercising any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all
the Debentures shall be due and payable, provided, however, that, where a
consent or action under the Indenture would require a Super Majority, the
Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the
written direction of the Holders of not less than the proportion in liquidation
amount of the Common Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of
the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. Notwithstanding
this Section 6(c), the Institutional Trustee shall not revoke any action
previously authorized or approved by a vote or consent of the Holders of the
Capital Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional
Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Institutional Trustee
shall not take any action described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, unless
the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect
that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be
classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If the
Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Declaration, to the
fullest extent permitted by law any Holder of the Common Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce the
Institutional Trustee's rights under the Declaration, without first instituting
a legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other Person.
Any approval or direction of Holders of the Common Securities
may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Common Securities convened
for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the
Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Administrators will cause a notice of
any meeting at which Holders of the Common Securities are entitled to vote, or
of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be
taken, to be mailed to each Holder of the Common Securities. Each such notice
will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date
by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution
proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote
or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions
for the delivery of proxies or consents.
158
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities
will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to
distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of
the Securities.
7. Amendments to Declaration and Indenture. (a) In addition to
any requirements under Section 11.1 of the Declaration, if any proposed
amendment to the Declaration provides for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to
effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or
special rights of the Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration
or otherwise, or (ii) the Liquidation of the Trust, other than as described in
Section 7.1 of the Declaration, then the Holders of outstanding Securities,
voting together as a single class, will be entitled to vote on such amendment or
proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the
approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Securities affected thereby; provided, however, if any amendment or proposal
referred to in clause (i) above would adversely affect only the Capital
Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the affected class will be
entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal
shall not be effective except with the approval of a Majority in liquidation
amount of such class of Securities.
(b) In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee as
the holder of the Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any
amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures, the
Institutional Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the
Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall
vote with respect to such amendment, modification, or termination as directed by
a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single
class; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require
a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the
written direction of the Holders of not less than the proportion in liquidation
amount of the Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or
modification may be made to the Declaration if such amendment or modification
would (i) cause the Trust to be classified for purposes of United States federal
income taxation as other than a grantor trust, (ii) reduce or otherwise
adversely affect the powers of the Institutional Trustee or (iii) cause the
Trust to be deemed an Investment Company which is required to be registered
under the Investment Company Act.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of the Declaration, the
right of any Holder of the Capital Securities to receive payment of
distributions and other payments upon redemption or otherwise, on or after their
respective due dates, or to institute a suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected
without the consent of such Holder. For the protection and enforcement of the
foregoing provision, each and every Holder of the Capital Securities shall be
entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or equity.
8. Pro Rata. A reference in these terms of the Securities to
any payment, distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata
to each Holder of the Securities according to the aggregate liquidation amount
of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate
liquidation amount of all Securities outstanding unless, in relation to a
payment, an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case any
funds available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the
Capital Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate
liquidation amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only after
satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities, to
each Holder of the Common Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate
liquidation amount of the Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative
to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding.
159
9. Ranking. The Capital Securities rank pari passu with, and
payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with, the Common Securities except that,
where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders
of the Common Securities to receive payment of Distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of the
Holders of the Capital Securities with the result that no payment of any
Distribution on, or redemption price of, any Common Security, and no other
payment on account of redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common
Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and
unpaid Distributions on all outstanding Capital Securities for all distribution
periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the
redemption price the full amount of such redemption price on all outstanding
Capital Securities then called for redemption, shall have been made or provided
for, and all funds immediately available to the Institutional Trustee shall
first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or the
redemption price of, the Capital Securities then due and payable.
10. Acceptance of Guarantee and Indenture. Each Holder of the
Capital Securities and the Common Securities, by the acceptance of such
Securities, agrees to the provisions of the Guarantee, including the
subordination provisions therein and to the provisions of the Indenture.
11. No Preemptive Rights. The Holders of the Securities shall
have no, and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to, preemptive or
similar rights to subscribe for any additional securities.
12. Miscellaneous. These terms constitute a part of the
Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee,
and the Indenture to a Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor
at its principal place of business.
160
EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY
(A) TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
"QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS
OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE
IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) PURSUANT
TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN
"ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR
(7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS
OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT
PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY
DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT,
SUBJECT TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER,
SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (C) OR (D) ABOVE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF
AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO
EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST, A
COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST. THE HOLDER
OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES,
REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SECURITIES ACT.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO
AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"),
(EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY
REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN
ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN,
UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE
UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23,
95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND
HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION
4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE
REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO
WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING
ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER
161
PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO
FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE AND HOLDING WILL NOT RESULT IN A
PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE
FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY
WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER
INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN
BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF
$1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK
HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND
OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT
TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE
SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY.
162
Certificate Number P-1 Number of Capital Securities 11,000
Certificate Evidencing Capital Securities
of
EVANS CAPITAL TRUST I
Floating Rate Capital Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security)
Evans Capital Trust I, a statutory trust created under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that SIGLER & CO.
(the "Holder") is the registered owner of 11,000 capital securities of the Trust
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust,
designated the Floating Rate Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per
Capital Security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as
defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records
of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this
Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital
Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation,
rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of
the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of
the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of October
1, 2004, among James Tilley and Mark DeBacker, as Administrators, Wilmington
Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional
Trustee, Evans Bancorp, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the
designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to
the Declaration, as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the
meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of
the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of
the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge
upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.
By acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder agrees to treat,
for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness
and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the
Debentures.
This Certificate and the Capital Securities evidenced thereby
are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
This Certificate may contain more than one counterpart of the
signature page and this Certificate may be executed and authenticated by the
affixing of the signature of an Administrator on behalf of the Trust, and the
signature of the Institutional Trustee providing authentication, to any of such
counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be
read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though the
Trust had executed, and the Institutional Trustee had authenticated, a single
signature page.
163
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this
certificate.
EVANS CAPITAL TRUST I
By: /s/James Tilley
---------------
Name: James Tilley
Title: Administrator
Dated: October 1st, 2004
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Declaration.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
not in its individual capacity but solely as
the Institutional Trustee
By: /s/Denise M. Garen
------------------
Authorized Officer
Dated: October 1st, 2004
164
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable
at a variable per annum rate of interest, which, with respect to any
Distribution Period (as defined herein) will be equal to LIBOR (as defined in
the Declaration) plus 2.65% (such variable per annum rate not to exceed 12.0%
per annum for any Distribution Period ending on or prior to the Distribution
Payment Date in November 2009) (the "Coupon Rate"), such rate being the rate of
interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee.
Except as set forth below in respect of an Extension Period, Distributions in
arrears for more than one Distribution Period will bear interest thereon
compounded quarterly at the applicable Coupon Rate for each such Distribution
Period (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as
used herein includes cash distributions, any such compounded distributions and
any Additional Interest payable on the Debentures unless otherwise stated. A
Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of
the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the
Institutional Trustee has funds legally available in the Property Account
therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any Distribution Period will
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed
in the relevant Distribution Period.
Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the
Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original
issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on February 23, May 23, August
23 and November 23 of each year, commencing on November 23, 2004 (each, a
"Distribution Payment Date"). The Debenture Issuer has the right under the
Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the
interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each, an
"Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject
to the conditions described below. During any Extension Period, interest will
continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest
(such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred
Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Coupon Rate in effect for
each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred
Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the
extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date other than a
Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the
Debenture Issuer shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the
Debentures; provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date. Prior to the
termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend
such period, provided, that such period together with all such previous and
further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly
periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special
Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the
payment of all Deferred Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new
Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred
Interest (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable) shall be
due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but
interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise
have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is
paid. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the
date that the related Extension Period terminates to Holders of the Securities
as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date
immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on
the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent
that the Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such distributions
in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for
Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments
received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys
held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee.
The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.
165
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the
Capital Securities evidenced by this Capital Security Certificate to:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee),
and irrevocably appoints _______________________________________________________
as agent to transfer the Capital Securities evidenced by this Capital Security
Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act
for it, him or her.
Date: ________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this
Capital Security Certificate)
Signature Guarantee:(1)_____________________________________
- -----------
(1) Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is
a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the
requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security
registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
166
EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE
THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION.
EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 8.1(b) OF THE DECLARATION (AS
DEFINED BELOW), THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED.
167
Certificate Number C-1 Number of Common Securities 341
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
EVANS CAPITAL TRUST I
Evans Capital Trust I, a statutory trust created under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Evans
Bancorp, Inc. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of 341 common securities of
the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)(the "Common Securities"). The
Common Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the
designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Common Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the
provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated
as of October 1, 2004, among James Tilley and Mark DeBacker, as Administrators,
Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as
Institutional Trustee, the Holder, as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time
of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the
designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Annex I to the
Declaration, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration").
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them
in the Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration and the
Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at
its principal place of business.
As set forth in the Declaration, when an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of Common Securities to
payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption or
otherwise are subordinated to the rights of payment of Holders of the Capital
Securities.
By acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder agrees to treat,
for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness
and the Common Securities as evidence of undivided beneficial ownership in the
Debentures.
This Certificate and the Common Securities evidenced hereby
are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
168
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate
this 1st day of October, 2004.
EVANS CAPITAL TRUST I
By: /s/James Tilley
---------------
Name: James Tilley
Title: Administrator
169
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
Distributions payable on each Common Security will be
identical in amount to the Distributions payable on each Capital Security, which
is at a variable per annum rate of interest, which, with respect to any
Distribution Period (as defined herein) will be equal to LIBOR (as defined in
the Declaration) plus 2.65% (such variable per annum rate not to exceed 12.0%
per annum for any Distribution Period ending on or prior to the Distribution
Payment Date in November 2009) (the "Coupon Rate"), such rate being the rate of
interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee.
Except as set forth below in respect of an Extension Period, Distributions in
arrears for more than one Distribution Period will bear interest thereon
compounded quarterly at the applicable Coupon Rate for each such Distribution
Period (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as
used herein includes cash distributions, any such compounded distributions and
any Additional Interest payable on the Debentures unless otherwise stated. A
Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of
the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the
Institutional Trustee has funds legally available in the Property Account
therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any Distribution Period will
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed
in the relevant Distribution Period.
Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the
Common Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original
issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on February 23, May 23, August
23 and November 23 of each year, commencing on November 23, 2004 (each, a
"Distribution Payment Date"). The Debenture Issuer has the right under the
Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the
interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each, an
"Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject
to the conditions described below. During any Extension Period, interest will
continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest
(such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred
Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Coupon Rate in effect for
each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred
Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the
extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date other than a
Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the
Debenture Issuer shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the
Debentures; provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date. Prior to the
termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend
such period, provided, that such period together with all such previous and
further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly
periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special
Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the
payment of all Deferred Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new
Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred
Interest (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable) shall be
due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but
interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise
have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is
paid. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the
date that the related Extension Period terminates to Holders of the Securities
as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date
immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on
the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent
that the Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such distributions
in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for
Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments
received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys
held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee.
The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.
170
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the
Common Securities evidenced by this Common Security Certificate to:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee),
and irrevocably appoints as agent to transfer the Common Securities evidenced by
this Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may
substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:__________________________________
Signature:_____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this
Common Security Certificate)
Signature Guarantee:(1)____________________________________
- ---------
(1) Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is
a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union, meeting the
requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security
registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
171
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF TRANSFEREE CERTIFICATE
TO BE EXECUTED BY TRANSFEREES OTHER THAN QIBS
__________, [ ]
Evans Bancorp, Inc.
Evans Capital Trust I
14-16 N. Main Street
P.O. Box 191
Angola, New York 14006-0191
Re: Purchase of $1,000 stated liquidation amount of Floating Rate Capital
Securities (the "Capital Securities") of Evans Capital Trust I
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our purchase of the Capital Securities we
confirm that:
1. We understand that the Floating Rate Capital Securities
(the "Capital Securities") of Evans Capital Trust I (the "Trust") (including the
guarantee (the "Guarantee") of Evans Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") executed in
connection therewith) and the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
due 2034 of the Company (the "Subordinated Debt Securities") (the Capital
Securities, the Guarantee and the Subordinated Debt Securities together being
referred to herein as the "Offered Securities"), have not been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be
offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our
own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing the
Capital Securities that, if we decide to offer, sell or otherwise transfer any
such Capital Securities, such offer, sale or transfer will be made only (a) to
the Company or the Trust, (b) pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, to
a person we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer under Rule
144A (a "QIB") that purchases for its own account or for the account of a QIB
and to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule
144A, (c) pursuant to an exemption from registration, to an "accredited
investor" within the meaning of subparagraph (a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule
501 under the Securities Act that is acquiring Capital Securities for its own
account or for the account of such an accredited investor for investment
purposes and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any
distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act, or (d) pursuant to
another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act, and in each of the foregoing cases in accordance with any applicable state
securities laws and any requirements of law that govern the disposition of our
property. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the
date on which, in the written opinion of counsel, the Capital Securities are not
"restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
If any resale or other transfer of the Capital Securities is proposed to be made
pursuant to clause (c) or (d) above, the transferor shall deliver a letter from
the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Institutional
Trustee as Transfer Agent, which shall provide as applicable, among other
things, that the transferee is an "accredited investor" within the meaning of
subparagraph (a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act that
is acquiring such Securities for investment purposes and not for distribution in
violation of the Securities Act. We acknowledge on our behalf and on behalf of
any investor account for which we are purchasing Securities that the Trust and
the Company reserve the right prior to any offer, sale or other transfer
pursuant to clause (c) or (d) to require the delivery of any opinion of counsel,
certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Trust and the
Company. We understand that the certificates for any Capital Security that we
receive will bear a legend substantially to the effect of the foregoing.
2. We are an "accredited investor" within the meaning of
subparagraph (a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act
purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an "accredited
investor," and we are acquiring the Capital Securities for investment purposes
and not with view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution
in violation of the Securities Act, and we have such knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of our investment in
172
the Capital Securities, and we and any account for which we are acting are each
able to bear the economic risks of our or its investment.
3. We are acquiring the Capital Securities purchased by us for
our own account (or for one or more accounts as to each of which we exercise
sole investment discretion and have authority to make, and do make, the
statements contained in this letter) and not with a view to any distribution of
the Capital Securities, subject, nevertheless, to the understanding that the
disposition of our property will at all times be and remain within our control.
4. In the event that we purchase any Capital Securities or any
Subordinated Debt Securities, we will acquire such Capital Securities having an
aggregate stated liquidation amount of not less than $100,000 or such
Subordinated Debt Securities having an aggregate principal amount not less than
$100,000, for our own account and for each separate account for which we are
acting.
5. We acknowledge that we either (A) are not a fiduciary of a
pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") (a "Plan"), or an
entity whose assets include "plan assets" by reason of any Plan's investment in
the entity and are not purchasing the Capital Securities on behalf of or with
"plan assets" by reason of any Plan's investment in the entity and are not
purchasing the Capital Securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any Plan
or (B) are eligible for the exemptive relief available under one or more of the
following prohibited transaction class exemptions ("PTCEs") issued by the U.S.
Department of Labor: PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14.
6. We acknowledge that each Plan, by its purchase of the
Capital Securities, will be deemed to have directed the Trust to invest in the
junior subordinated debt securities of the Company, and to have consented to the
appointment of the institutional trustee of the Trust.
7. We acknowledge that the Trust and the Company and others
will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments,
representations, warranties and agreements and agree that if any of our
acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements are no longer
accurate, we shall promptly notify the Purchaser. If we are acquiring any
Capital Securities as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, we
represent that we have sole discretion with respect to each such investor
account and that we have full power to make the foregoing acknowledgments,
representations and agreements on behalf of each such investor account.
You are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably
authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in
any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the
matters covered hereby.
____________________________________
(Name of Purchaser)
By:_________________________________
Date:_______________________________
Upon transfer, the Capital Securities should be registered in
the name of the new beneficial owner as follows.
Name:_________________________________
Address:_________________________________
Taxpayer ID Number:_________________________________
173
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE
TO BE EXECUTED FOR QIBs
__________, [ ]
Evans Bancorp, Inc.
Evans Capital Trust I
14-16 N. Main Street
P.O. Box 191 Angola, New York 14006-0191
Re: Purchase of $1,000 stated liquidation amount of Floating Rate Capital
Securities (the "Capital Securities") of Evans Capital Trust I
Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust of Evans Capital Trust I, dated as of October 1, 2004 (the
"Declaration"), among James Tilley and Mark DeBacker, as Administrators,
Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as
Institutional Trustee, Evans Bancorp, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from
time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Evans Capital
Trust I. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given them in the Declaration.
This letter relates to $[_______________] aggregate
liquidation amount of Capital Securities which are held in the name of [name of
transferor] (the "Transferor").
In accordance with Section 8.2(b) of the Declaration, the
Transferor does hereby certify that such Capital Securities are being
transferred in accordance with (i) the transfer restrictions set forth in the
Capital Securities and (ii) Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A"), to
a transferee that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Capital
Securities for its own account or an account with respect to which the
transferee exercises sole investment discretion and the transferee and any such
account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A, in
a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with
applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other
jurisdiction.
You are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably
authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in
any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the
matters covered hereby.
_________________________________
(Name of Transferor)
By:___________________________________
Name:________________________
Title:_______________________
Date:___________________________