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EXHIBIT 4(a)
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
AS TRUSTEE
--------------------
SENIOR NOTE INDENTURE
Dated as of January 1, 2003
--------------------
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
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<Caption>
Section of
Trust Indenture Act Section of
of 1939, as amended Indenture
- ------------------- ----------
310(a).......................................... 7.09
310(b).......................................... 7.08
.......................................... 7.10
310(c).......................................... Inapplicable
311(a).......................................... 7.13
311(b).......................................... 7.13
311(c).......................................... Inapplicable
312(a).......................................... 5.01
.......................................... 5.02(a)
312(b).......................................... 5.02(c)
.......................................... 5.02(d)
312(c).......................................... 5.02(e)
313(a).......................................... 5.04(a)
313(b).......................................... 5.04(a)
313(c).......................................... 5.04(a)
313(d).......................................... 5.04(b)
314(a).......................................... 5.03
314(b).......................................... Inapplicable
314(c).......................................... 13.06(a)
314(d).......................................... Inapplicable
314(e).......................................... 13.06(b)
314(f).......................................... Inapplicable
315(a).......................................... 7.01(a)
.......................................... 7.02
315(b).......................................... 6.07
315(c).......................................... 7.01(a)
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315(d).......................................... 7.01(b)
315(e).......................................... 6.08
316(a).......................................... 6.06
.......................................... 8.04
316(b).......................................... 6.04
316(c).......................................... 8.01
317(a).......................................... 6.02
317(b).......................................... 4.03
318(a).......................................... 13.08
</Table>
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture and should
not have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions
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RECITALS:
Purpose of Indenture........................................................1
Compliance with legal requirements..........................................1
Purpose of and consideration for Indenture..................................2
ARTICLE ONE - DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01
Certain terms defined, other terms defined in the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or by
reference therein in the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, to have the meanings assigned therein
Affiliate.............................................................2
Authenticating Agent..................................................3
Authorized Officer....................................................3
Board of Directors....................................................3
Board Resolution......................................................3
Business Day..........................................................3
Certificate...........................................................3
Commission............................................................4
Company...............................................................4
Company Order.........................................................4
Corporate Trust Office................................................4
Default...............................................................4
Depository............................................................4
Discount Security.....................................................5
Dollar................................................................5
Eligible Obligations..................................................5
Event of Default......................................................5
Global Security.......................................................5
Governmental Authority................................................5
Governmental Obligations..............................................6
Indenture.............................................................6
Instructions..........................................................6
Interest .............................................................6
Interest Payment Date.................................................7
Officers' Certificate.................................................7
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Opinion of Counsel....................................................7
Outstanding...........................................................7
Periodic Offering.....................................................8
Person................................................................8
Place of Payment......................................................8
Predecessor Security..................................................8
Responsible Officer...................................................8
Security..............................................................9
Securityholder........................................................9
Series................................................................9
Tranche...............................................................9
Trustee...............................................................9
Trust Indenture Act...................................................9
United States........................................................10
ARTICLE TWO - ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
Section 2.01
Designation, terms, amount, authentication
and delivery of Securities...........................................10
Section 2.02
Form of Security and Trustee's certificate...........................12
Section 2.03
Date and denominations of Securities,
and provisions for payment of principal,
premium and interest.................................................13
Section 2.04
Execution of Securities..............................................15
Section 2.05
Exchange of Securities...............................................17
(a) Registration and transfer
of Securities...................................................17
(b) Security Register; Securities to be accompanied
by proper instruments of transfer...............................17
(c) Charges upon exchange, transfer or
registration of Securities......................................17
(d) Restrictions on transfer or
exchange at time of redemption..................................18
Section 2.06
Temporary Securities.................................................18
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Section 2.07
Mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Securities....................................................19
Section 2.08
Cancellation of surrendered Securities...............................20
Section 2.09
Provisions of Indenture and Securities
for sole benefit of parties and
Securityholders......................................................20
Section 2.10
Appointment of Authenticating Agent..................................20
Section 2.11
Global Security......................................................21
(a) Authentication and Delivery;
Legend..........................................................21
(b) Transfer of Global Security.....................................21
(c) Issuance of Securities in
Definitive Form.................................................21
Section 2.12
Payment in Proper Currency...........................................22
Section 2.13
Identification of Securities.........................................23
ARTICLE THREE - REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND
SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.01
Redemption of Securities.............................................23
Section 3.02
(a) Notice of redemption............................................23
(b) Selection of Securities in case
less than all Securities to be
redeemed........................................................24
Section 3.03
(a) When Securities called for
redemption become due and payable...............................25
(b) Receipt of new Security upon
partial payment.................................................25
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Section 3.04
Sinking Fund for Securities..........................................26
Section 3.05
Satisfaction of Sinking Fund
Payments with Securities.............................................26
Section 3.06
Redemption of Securities for
Sinking Fund.........................................................26
ARTICLE FOUR - PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 4.01
Payment of principal (and premium
if any) and interest on Securities...................................27
Section 4.02
Maintenance of office or agency for payment of Securities,
designation of office or agency for payment, registration,
transfer and exchange of Securities..................................27
Section 4.03
(a) Duties of paying agent..........................................28
(b) Company as paying agent.........................................28
(c) Holding sums in trust...........................................29
Section 4.04
Appointment to fill vacancy in
office of Trustee....................................................29
Section 4.05
Restriction on consolidation,
merger or sale.......................................................29
Section 4.06
Notice of Discount Security..........................................29
ARTICLE FIVE - SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS
BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.01
Company to furnish Trustee information
as to names and addresses of
Securityholders......................................................30
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Section 5.02
(a) Trustee to preserve information
as to names and addresses of
Securityholders received by it
in capacity of paying agent.....................................30
(b) Trustee may destroy list of
Securityholders on certain
conditions......................................................30
(c) Trustee to make information as to
names and addresses of Securityholders
available to "applicants" to mail
communications to Securityholders in
certain circumstances...........................................30
(d) Procedure if Trustee elects not to
make information available to
applicants......................................................31
(e) Company and Trustee not accountable
for disclosure of information...................................31
Section 5.03
(a) Annual and other reports to be filed
by Company with Trustee.........................................32
(b) Additional information and reports
to be filed with Trustee and
Securities and Exchange Commission..............................32
(c) Summaries of information and reports
to be transmitted by Company to
Securityholders.................................................32
(d) Annual Certificate to be furnished
to Trustee......................................................32
(e) Effect of Delivery to Trustee...................................33
Section 5.04
(a) Trustee to transmit annual report
to Securityholders..............................................33
(b) Trustee to transmit certain furtherreports
to Securityholders and copies of reports
to be filed with stock exchanges and Securities
and Exchange Commission.........................................33
ARTICLE SIX - REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND
SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.01
(a) Events of default defined.......................................33
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(b) Acceleration of maturity
upon Event of Default...........................................35
(c) Waiver of default and rescission
of declaration of maturity......................................35
(d) Restoration of former position
and rights upon curing default..................................36
Section 6.02
(a) Covenant of Company to pay to
Trustee whole amount due on
Securities on default in payment
of interest or principal (and
premium, if any)................................................36
(b) Trustee may recover judgment for
whole amount due on Securities on
failure of Company to pay.......................................36
(c) Billing of proof of claim by Trustee
in bankruptcy, reorganization or
receivership proceeding.........................................37
(d) Rights of action and of asserting
claims may be enforced by Trustee
without possession of Securities................................37
Section 6.03
Application of monies collected by Trustee...........................38
Section 6.04
Limitation on suits by holders of Securities.........................38
Section 6.05
(a) Remedies Cumulative.............................................39
(b) Delay or omission in exercise
of rights not waiver of default.................................39
Section 6.06
Rights of holders of majority in
principal amount of Securities to
direct trustee and to waive defaults.................................40
Section 6.07
Trustees to give notice of defaults
known to it, but may withhold in
certain circumstances.............................................41
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Section 6.08
Requirements of an undertaking to pay
costs in certain suits under Indenture
or against Trustee...................................................41
ARTICLE SEVEN - CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.01
(a) Upon Event of Default occurring and
continuing, Trustee shall exercise powers
vested in it, and use same degree of
care and skill in their exercise, as
prudent individual will use.....................................42
(b) Trustee not relieved from liability
for negligence or willful misconduct
except as provided in this section..............................42
(1) Prior to Event of Default and
after the curing of all Events of
Default which may have occurred
(i) Trustee not liable except for
performance of duties specifically
set forth
(ii) In absence of bad faith, Trustee
may conclusively rely on
certificates or opinions furnished
it hereunder, subject to duty to
examine the same if specifically
required to be furnished to it
(2) Trustee not liable for error of judgment
made in good faith by Responsible
Officer unless Trustee negligent
(3) Trustee not liable for action or
non-action in accordance with
direction of holders of majority in
principal amount of Securities
(4) Trustee need not expend own funds
without adequate indemnity
(c) Every provision relating to conduct of
affecting liability of or affording
protection to Trustee subject to
Section 7.01....................................................43
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Section 7.02
Subject to provisions of Section 7.01:
(a) Trustee may rely on documents believed
genuine and properly signed or presented........................44
(b) Sufficient evidence by certain
instruments provided for........................................44
(c) Trustee may consult with counsel and act
on advice or Opinion of Counsel.................................44
(d) Trustee may require indemnity from
Securityholders.................................................44
(e) Trustee not liable for actions in good
faith believed to be authorized.................................44
(f) Trustee not bound to investigate facts or
matters stated in certificates, etc. unless
requested in writing by Securityholders.........................44
(g) Trustee may perform duties directly or
through agents or attorneys.....................................45
(h) Permissive rights of Trustee....................................45
(i) Rights extended to Trustee in each of its
Capacities .....................................................45
(j) Trustee may request certificate regarding
authorized officers.............................................45
Section 7.03
(a) Trustee not liable for recitals in
Indenture or in Securities......................................45
(b) No representations by Trustee as to
validity or Indenture or of Securities..........................46
(c) Trustee not accountable for use of
Securities or proceeds..........................................46
Section 7.04
Trustee, paying agent or Security
Registrar may own Security...........................................46
Section 7.05
Monies received by Trustee to be held
in Trust without interest............................................46
Section 7.06
(a) Trustee entitled to compensation,
reimbursement and indemnity.....................................46
(b) Obligations to Trustee to be
secured by lien prior to
Securities......................................................47
(c) Nature of Expenses..............................................47
(d) Survival of Obligations.........................................47
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Section 7.07
Right of Trustee to rely on certificate
of officers of Company where no other
evidence specifically prescribed.....................................47
Section 7.08
Trustee acquiring conflicting interest
to eliminate conflict or resign......................................47
Section 7.09
Requirements for eligibility of
trustee..............................................................48
Section 7.10
(a) Resignation of Trustee and
appointment of successor........................................48
(b) Removal of Trustee by Company
or by court on Securityholders'
application.....................................................48
(c) Removal of Trustee by holders
of majority in principal amount
of Securities...................................................49
(d) Time when resignation or removal
of Trustee effective............................................49
(e) One Trustee for each series.....................................50
Section 7.11
(a) Acceptance by successor Trustee.................................50
(b) Trustee with respect to less than
all series......................................................50
(c) Company to confirm Trustee's rights.............................51
(d) Successor Trustee to be qualified...............................51
(e) Notice of succession............................................51
Section 7.12
Successor to Trustee by merger, consolidation
of succession to business............................................51
Section 7.13
Limitations on rights of Trustee as a
creditor to obtain payment of certain
claims...............................................................52
ARTICLE EIGHT - CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 8.01
Evidence of action by Securityholders................................52
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Section 8.02
Proof of execution of instruments and of
holding of Securities................................................53
Section 8.03
Who may be deemed owners of Securities...............................53
Section 8.04
Securities owned by Company or controlled
or controlling companies disregarded for
certain purposes.....................................................54
Section 8.05
Instruments executed by Securityholders
bind future holders..................................................54
ARTICLE NINE - SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.01
Purposes for which supplemental indenture
may be entered into without consent of
Securityholders......................................................55
Section 9.02
Modification of Indenture with consent
of Securityholders...................................................58
Section 9.03
Effect of supplemental indentures....................................59
Section 9.04
Securities may bear notation of changes
by supplemental indentures...........................................59
Section 9.05
Opinion of Counsel...................................................60
ARTICLE TEN - CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE
Section 10.01
Consolidations or mergers of Company
and sales or conveyances of property
of Company permitted.................................................60
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Section 10.02
(a) Rights and duties of successor company..........................60
(b) Appropriate changes may be made in
phraseology and form of Securities..............................61
(c) Company may consolidate or merge into
itself or acquire properties of other
corporations....................................................61
Section 10.03
Opinion of Counsel...................................................61
ARTICLE ELEVEN - SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE;
UNCLAIMED MONIES
Section 11.01
Defeasance and conditions to defeasance..............................62
Section 11.02
Application by Trustee of funds deposited
for payment of Securities............................................63
Section 11.03
Repayment of monies held by paying agent.............................63
Section 11.04
Repayment of monies held by Trustee..................................64
ARTICLE TWELVE - IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 12.01
Incorporators, Stockholders, officers and
directors of Company exempt from individual
liability............................................................64
ARTICLE THIRTEEN - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.01
Successors and assigns of Company
bound by Indenture...................................................65
Section 13.02
Acts of board, committee or officer
of successor company valid...........................................65
Section 13.03
Surrender of powers by Company.......................................65
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Section 13.04
Required notices or demands may by
served by mail.......................................................65
Section 13.05
Indenture and Securities to be construed
in accordance with laws of the State
of New York..........................................................65
Section 13.06
(a) Officers' Certificate and Opinion of
Counsel to be furnished upon applications
or demands by Company...........................................66
(b) Statements to be included in each
certificate or opinion with respect
to compliance with condition or covenant........................66
Section 13.07
Payments due on non-Business Days....................................66
Section 13.08
Provisions required by Trust Indenture
Act of 1939 to control...............................................66
Section 13.09
Indenture may be executed in counterparts............................67
Section 13.10
Separability of Indenture provisions.................................67
Section 13.11
Assignment by Company to subsidiary..................................67
Section 13.12
Headings.............................................................67
Section 13.13
Securities in Foreign Currencies.....................................67
ACCEPTANCE OF TRUST BY TRUSTEE..................................................68
TESTIMONIUM.....................................................................68
SIGNATURES......................................................................68
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THIS INDENTURE, dated as of the 1st day of January, 2003, between GENERAL
ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
the State of New York (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Company"), and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (hereinafter
sometimes referred to as the "Trustee"):
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized
the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of
unsecured promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter
referred to as the "Securities"), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to
be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided,
as registered Securities without coupons, to be manually authenticated by the
certificate of the Trustee, and which will rank pari passu with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Company;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are
to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the
execution of this Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Securities and the certificate of authentication to be borne
by the Securities (the "Certificate of Authentication") are to be substantially
in such forms as may be approved by a Company Order (as defined below), or set
forth in this Indenture or in any indenture supplemental to this Indenture;
AND WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Securities issued
pursuant hereto, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee as in this Indenture provided, the valid, binding and legal
obligations of the Company, and to constitute these presents a valid indenture
and agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed or will be
done and performed prior to the issuance of such Securities, and the execution
of this Indenture has been and the issuance hereunder of the Securities has been
or will be prior to issuance in all respects duly authorized, and the Company,
in the exercise of the legal right and power in it vested, executes this
Indenture and proposes to make, execute, issue and deliver the Securities;
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NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Securities
are and are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of
the premises, of the purchase and acceptance of the Securities by the holders
thereof and of the sum of one dollar ($1.00) to it duly paid by the Trustee at
the execution of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the
Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee, for the equal and proportionate
benefit (subject to the provisions of this Indenture) of the respective holders
from time to time of the Securities, without any discrimination, preference or
priority of any one Security over any other by reason of priority in the time of
issue, sale or negotiation thereof, or otherwise, except as provided herein, as
follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. The terms defined in this Section (except as in this
Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires)
for all purposes of this Indenture, any Company Order, any Board Resolution, and
any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified
in this Section. All other terms used in this Indenture which are defined in the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or which are by reference in such Act
defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said
Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
Affiliate:
The term "Affiliate" of the Company shall mean any company at least a majority
of whose outstanding voting stock shall at the time be owned by the Company, or
by one or more direct or indirect subsidiaries of or by the Company and one or
more direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company. For the purposes only of
this definition of the term "Affiliate", the term "voting stock", as applied to
the stock of any company, shall mean stock of any class or classes having
ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors of such
company, other than stock having such power only by reason of the occurrence of
a contingency.
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Authenticating Agent:
The term "Authenticating Agent" shall mean an authenticating agent with respect
to all or any of the series of Securities, as the case may be, appointed with
respect to all or any series of the Securities, as the case may be, by the
Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
Authorized Officer:
The term "Authorized Officer" shall mean the Chairman of the Board, the
President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer or any
other officer or agent of the Company duly authorized by the Board of Directors
to act in respect of matters relating to this Indenture.
Board of Directors or Board:
The term "Board of Directors" or "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of
the Company, or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
Board Resolution:
The term "Board Resolution" shall mean a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant or Attesting Secretary of the Company to have been
duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the
date of such certification.
Business Day:
The term "Business Day", with respect to any Security, shall mean any day that
(a) in the Place of Payment (or in any of the Places of Payment, if more than
one) in which amounts are payable as specified in the form of such Security and
(b) in the city in which the Trustee administers its corporate trust business,
is not a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or
regulation to close.
Certificate:
The term "Certificate" shall mean a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer.
The Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 13.06.
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Commission:
The term "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act") or if at any time after the execution of this
instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now
assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body, if any, performing
such duties on such date.
Company:
The term "Company" shall mean General Electric Company, a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of New York, and, subject to the
provisions of Article Ten, shall also include its successors and assigns.
Company Order:
The term "Company Order" shall mean a written order signed in the name of the
Company by an Authorized Officer and the Secretary or an Assistant or Attesting
Secretary of the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution establishing a series
of Securities.
Corporate Trust Office:
The term "Corporate Trust Office" shall mean the office of the Trustee at which
at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which office at the date of the execution of this Indenture is
located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8W, New York, New York 10286.
Default:
The term "Default" shall mean any event, act or condition which with notice or
lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
Depository:
The term "Depository" shall mean, with respect to Securities of any series, for
which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a
Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another
clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the
Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case,
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shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.
Discount Security:
The term "Discount Security" means any Security which provides for an amount
less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration
of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01(b).
Dollar:
The term "Dollar" or "$" means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or
currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the
payment of public and private debts.
Eligible Obligations:
The term "Eligible Obligations" means (a) with respect to Securities denominated
in Dollars, Governmental Obligations; or (b) with respect to Securities
denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency, such
other obligations or instruments as shall be specified with respect to such
Securities, as contemplated by Section 2.01.
Event of Default:
The term "Event of Default" with respect to Securities of a particular series
shall mean any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of
time, if any, therein designated.
Global Security:
The term "Global Security" shall mean, with respect to any series of Securities,
a Security executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee to the Depository or pursuant to the Depository's instruction, all in
accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the
Depository or its nominee.
Governmental Authority:
The term "Governmental Authority" means the government of the United States or
of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or of any
county, municipality or other political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or
any department,
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agency, authority or other instrumentality of any of the foregoing.
Governmental Obligations:
The term "Governmental Obligations" shall mean securities that are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full
faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States,
the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit
obligation by the United States, which, in either case, are not callable or
redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a
depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such
Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any
such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the
holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law)
such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable
to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by such
custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of
principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such
depository receipt.
Indenture:
The term "Indenture" shall mean this instrument as originally executed, or, if
amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, and
shall include the terms of a particular series of Securities established as
contemplated by Section 2.01.
Instructions:
The term "Instructions" shall mean instructions acceptable to the Trustee issued
pursuant to a Company Order in connection with a Periodic Offering and signed by
an Authorized Officer. Instructions need not comply with the provisions of
Section 13.06.
Interest:
The term "interest" when used with respect to non-interest bearing Securities
shall mean interest payable after maturity (whether at stated maturity, upon
acceleration or redemption or otherwise) or
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after the date, if any, on which the Company becomes obligated to acquire a
Security, whether by purchase or otherwise.
Interest Payment Date:
The term "Interest Payment Date" when used with respect to any installment of
interest on a Security of a particular series shall mean the date specified in
such Security or in a Board Resolution, Company Order or an indenture
supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an
installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and
payable.
Officers' Certificate:
The term "Officers' Certificate" shall mean a certificate signed by an
Authorized Officer and by the Secretary or Assistant or Attesting Secretary of
the Company. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in
Section 13.06, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
Opinion of Counsel:
The term "Opinion of Counsel" shall mean an opinion in writing signed by legal
counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company. Each such opinion
shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.06, if and to the extent
required by the provisions thereof.
Outstanding:
The term "outstanding", when used with reference to Securities of any series,
shall, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular
time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by
the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent
for cancellation or which have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or
portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which monies or Eligible
Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the
Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set
aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its
own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of
such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such
redemption shall have been given as in Article Three provided, or provision
satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such
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notice; and (c) Securities paid pursuant to Section 2.07 or in lieu of or in
substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and
delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07. The principal amount of a
Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for purposes of this
Indenture shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and
payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration
of the maturity thereof.
Periodic Offering:
The term "Periodic Offering" means an offering of Securities of a series from
time to time, during which any or all of the specific terms of the Securities,
including without limitation the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the
maturity or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with
respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the
issuance of such Securities.
Person:
The term "person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust or unincorporated organization or any
Governmental Authority.
Place of Payment:
The term "Place of Payment" shall mean the place or places where the principal
of and interest, if any, on the Securities of any series are payable as
specified in accordance with Section 2.01.
Predecessor Security:
The term "Predecessor Security" of any particular Security shall mean every
previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced
by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any
Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost,
destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the
lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
Responsible Officer:
The term "Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee shall mean
any vice president, any corporate trust officer or any other officer or
assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to
those performed by the
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persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any
corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
Security or Securities:
The term "Security" or "Securities" shall mean any Security or Securities, as
the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
Securityholder:
The term "Securityholder", "holder of Securities" or "registered holder" shall
mean the person or persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be
registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with
the terms of this Indenture.
Series:
The term "series" means a series of Securities established pursuant to this
Indenture and includes, if the context so requires, each Tranche thereof.
Tranche:
The term "Tranche" means Securities which (a) are of the same series and (b)
have identical terms except as to principal amount and/or date of issuance.
Trustee:
The term "Trustee" shall mean The Bank of New York, and, subject to the
provisions of Article Seven, shall also include its successors and assigns, and,
if at any time there is more than one person acting in such capacity hereunder,
"Trustee" shall mean each such person. The term "Trustee" as used with respect
to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to
that series.
Trust Indenture Act:
The term "Trust Indenture Act", subject to the provisions of Sections 9.01,
9.02, and 10.01, shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and in
effect at the date of execution of this Indenture.
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United States:
The term "United States" means the United States of America, its Territories,
its possessions and other areas subject to its political jurisdiction.
ARTICLE TWO
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,
REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series and in
one or more Tranches thereof. Each series shall be authorized by a Company Order
or Orders or one or more indentures supplemental hereto, which shall specify
whether the Securities of such series shall be subject to a Periodic Offering.
The Company Order or Orders or supplemental indenture and, in the case of a
Periodic Offering, Instructions or other procedures acceptable to the Trustee
specified in such Company Order or Orders, shall establish the terms of the
series, which may include the following: (i) any limitations on the aggregate
principal amount of the Securities to be authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture as part of such series (except for Securities authenticated and
delivered upon registration of transfer of, in exchange for or in lieu of other
Securities of that series); (ii) the stated maturity or maturities of such
series and any right to extend such date or dates; (iii) the date or dates from
which interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest
will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates
and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable
on any such Interest Payment Date; (iv) the interest rate or rates (which may be
fixed or variable), or method of calculation of such rate or rates, for such
series; (v) the terms, if any, regarding the redemption, purchase or repayment
of such series (whether at the option of the Company or a holder of the
Securities of such series and whether pursuant to a sinking fund or analogous
provisions, including payments made in cash in anticipation of future sinking
fund obligations), including redemption, purchase or repayment date or dates of
such series, if any, and the price or prices and other terms and conditions
applicable to such redemption, purchase or repayment (including any premium);
(vi) whether or not the Securities of such series shall be issued in whole or in
part in
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the form of a Global Security and, if so, the Depositary for such Global
Security and the related procedures with respect to transfer and exchange of
such Global Security; (vii) the designation of such series; (viii) the form of
the Securities of such series; (ix) the maximum annual interest rate, if any, of
the Securities permitted for such series; (x) whether the Securities of such
series shall be subject to Periodic Offering; (xi) the currency or currencies,
including composite currencies, in which payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of such series shall be payable,
if other than Dollars and the manner of determining the Dollar equivalent for
purposes of determining Securities outstanding; (xii) any other information
necessary to complete the Securities of such series; (xiii) the establishment of
any office or agency pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof and any other place or
places which the principal of and interest, if any, on Securities of that series
shall be payable; (xiv) if other than denominations of $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall
be issuable; (xv) the obligations or instruments, if any, which shall be
considered to be Eligible Obligations in respect of the Securities of such
series denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency;
(xvi) whether or not the Securities of such series shall be issued as Discount
Securities and the terms thereof, including the portion of the principal amount
thereof which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 6.01(b); (xvii) if the principal, premium, if any,
or interest, if any, on such Securities are to be payable, at the election of
the Company or the holder thereof, in coin or currency, including composite
currencies, other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable,
the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which,
such election shall be made; (xviii) if the amount of payment of principal of
and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Securities may be determined
with reference to an index, formula or other method, or based on a coin or
currency other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the
manner in which such amount shall be determined; (xix) the date or dates, if
any, after which the Securities may be converted or exchanged into or for shares
of the Company's common stock or another company's securities or properties or
cash and the terms for any such conversion or exchange; (xx) whether the
Securities will be subject to Article 11; (xxi) any special provisions for the
payment of additional amounts; (xxii) any right to defer payments of interest by
extending an interest payment period and the duration of such extension; and
(xxiii) any other terms of such series not inconsistent with this Indenture.
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All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as
to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any
such Company Order or in any indentures supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant
to a Company Order, a copy of an appropriate record of the applicable Board
Resolution shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant or Attesting
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the
delivery of the Company Order setting forth the terms of that series.
SECTION 2.02. The Securities of any series shall be substantially of
the tenor and purport (i) as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental
hereto or as provided in a Company Order, or (ii) with respect to any Tranche of
Securities of a series subject to Periodic Offering, to the extent permitted by
any of the documents referred to in clause (i) above, in Instructions, or by
other procedures acceptable to the Trustee specified in such Company Order or
Orders, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions
and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may
have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and
such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the
Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed or of the Depository,
or to conform to usage.
The Trustee's Certificate of Authentication shall be in substantially the
following form:
"This is one of the Securities of the series designated in accordance with,
and referred to in, the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee
By:
----------------------------
Authorized Signatory"
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SECTION 2.03. The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities
and in the denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof, subject to
Sections 2.01(xi) and (xiv). The Securities of a particular series shall bear
interest payable on the dates and at the rate or rates specified with respect to
that series. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01, the
principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any
premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be
payable in Dollars at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that
purpose. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The interest installment on any Security which is payable, and is
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for
Securities of that series shall be paid to the person in whose name said
Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on the regular record date for such interest installment, except that
interest payable on redemption or maturity shall be payable as set forth in the
Company Order or indenture supplemental hereto establishing the terms of such
series of Securities. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section
2.01, interest on Securities will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months.
Any interest on any Security which is payable, but is not punctually paid
or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same
series (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable
to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having
been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at
its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on
Securities to the persons in whose names such Securities (or their
respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business
on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which
shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the
Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid
on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same
time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to
the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such
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Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when
deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled to
such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee
shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest
which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of
the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the
Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly
notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the
expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such
Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first
class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it
appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10
days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of
such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been
mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the persons
in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities)
are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable
pursuant to the following clause (2).
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any
Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be
listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after
notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant
to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the
Trustee.
Unless otherwise set forth in a Company Order or one or more indentures
supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant
to Section 2.01 hereof, the term "regular record date" as used in this Section
with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date
for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately
preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such
series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment
Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately
preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such
series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment
Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such
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date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a
series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in
lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest
accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 2.04. The Securities shall, subject to the provisions of
Section 2.06, be printed on steel engraved borders or fully or partially
engraved, or legibly typed, as the proper officer of the Company may determine,
and shall be signed on behalf of the Company by an Authorized Officer. The
signature of such Authorized Officer upon the Securities may be in the form of a
facsimile signature of a present or any future Authorized Officer and may be
imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities and for that purpose the
Company may use the facsimile signature of any person who shall have been an
Authorized Officer, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities
shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such person shall have
ceased to be an Authorized Officer.
Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a Certificate of Authentication
substantially in the form established for such Securities, executed manually by
an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by any Authenticating Agent with
respect to such Securities, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture
or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate executed by the
Trustee, or by any Authenticating Agent appointed by the Trustee with respect to
such Securities, upon any Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive
evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder and that the registered holder thereof is entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this
Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Securities and the Trustee, in accordance
with such Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver such Securities;
provided, however, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic
Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time
to time in accordance with Instructions or such other procedures acceptable to
the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a supplemental indenture or
Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the
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first authentication of Securities of such series.
In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional
responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the
Trustee shall receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in
relying upon, (i) an Opinion of Counsel and (ii) an Officers' Certificate, each
stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with
the provisions of this Indenture; provided, however, that, with respect to
Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive such Opinion of Counsel and Officers' Certificate only once
at or prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series
and that, in such opinion or certificate, the opinion or certificate described
above may state that when the terms of such Securities, or each Tranche thereof,
shall have been established pursuant to a Company Order or Orders or pursuant to
such procedures acceptable to the Trustee, as may be specified by a Company
Order, such terms will have been established in conformity with the provisions
of this Indenture. Each Opinion of Counsel and Officers' Certificate delivered
pursuant to this Section 2.04 shall include all statements prescribed in Section
13.06(b). Such Opinion of Counsel shall also be to the effect that when such
Securities have been executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and delivered to and duly paid
for by the purchasers thereof, they will be valid and legally binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms (subject
to customary exceptions) and will be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of
such Securities, the forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding
effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Company Order, Opinion of Counsel,
Officers' Certificate and other documents delivered pursuant to this Section at
or prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series
unless and until such Company Order, Opinion of Counsel, Officers' Certificate
or other documents have been superseded or revoked or expire by their terms.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the
issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's
own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or
otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
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SECTION 2.05. (a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon
presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such
purpose, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and
for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in
this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the
Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency
shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series
which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive,
bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency
designated for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of
New York, or such other location designated by the Company a register or
registers (herein referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to
such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the
Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which
at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The
registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities
as herein provided shall be appointed as authorized by Board Resolution, an
indenture supplement hereto or Company Order (the "Security Registrar").
Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the
Company designated for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and
State of New York, or other location as aforesaid, the Company shall execute,
the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the
name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same
series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.
All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of
transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by
the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly
executed by the registered holder or by his duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) Except as provided in the first paragraph of Section 2.07, no service
charge shall be made for any exchange or
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registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of
partial redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto,
other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04
not involving any transfer.
(d) The Company shall neither be required (i) to issue, exchange or
register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening
of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of
less than all the outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the
close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer
of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for
redemption or as to which the holder thereof has exercised its right, if any, to
require the Company to repurchase such Security in whole or in part, except that
portion of such Security not required to be repurchased. The provisions of this
Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11
hereof.
SECTION 2.06. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any
series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver,
temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized
denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu
of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as
may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the
Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company
and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in
substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive
Securities of such series in accordance with Section 2.04. Without unnecessary
delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such
series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be
surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the holders thereof), at the
office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such
temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive
Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect
that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further
notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such
series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive
Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
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SECTION 2.07. In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become
mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next
succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon its request the Trustee (subject as
aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series
bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution
for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security
so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted
Security shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in
every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to
the Company and to the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of the applicant's Security and of the ownership
thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver
the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the
Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require
the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the
fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith. In case any Security
which has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed,
lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay
or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the
case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to
the Company and to the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to
save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the
satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of
such Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section in
substitution for any Security which is mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or
not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any
time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of
this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of
the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned
upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with
respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights
or remedies, notwithstanding any
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law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the
replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without
their surrender.
SECTION 2.08. All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment,
redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, or for credit against a
sinking fund, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee,
shall be canceled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof
except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this
Indenture. On request of the Company, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company
canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the
Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard
procedures. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities,
however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of
the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.09. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or
implied, shall give or be construed to give to any person, firm or corporation,
other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under
any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants,
conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and
of the holders of the Securities.
SECTION 2.10. So long as any of the Securities of any series remain
outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of
Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said
Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to
authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial
redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as
if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to
the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include
authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series except for
authentication upon original issuance or pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof. Each
Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a
corporation which has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported
or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which
it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust
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business, and which is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such
business and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State
authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible
in accordance with these provisions it shall resign immediately.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of
resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and
upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating
Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and
to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any
Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor
Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating
Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally
named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto. The Company agrees to pay to
each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its
services under this Section.
SECTION 2.11. (a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to
Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a
Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in
accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security which
(i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series,
(ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, (iii)
shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depository or
pursuant to the Depository's instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend
substantially to the following effect: "Except as otherwise provided in Section
2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in
part, only to another nominee of the Depository or to a successor Depository or
to a nominee of such successor Depository."
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of
a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided
in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depository for such series, or
to a successor Depository for such series selected or approved by the Company or
to a nominee of such successor Depository.
(c) If at any time the Depository for a series of Securities notifies the
Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such series
or if at any time the Depository for
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such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange
Act, or other applicable statute or regulation and a successor Depository for
such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company
receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be,
this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series
and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee will
authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive registered form
without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in
exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time
determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a
Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer
apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute,
and subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers'
Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and
deliver Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons,
in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such
Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in
definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the
Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive
registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this
Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
denominations as the Depository, pursuant to instructions from its direct or
indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Security Registrar. The
Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depository for delivery to the
persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
SECTION 2.12. In the case of the Securities of any series denominated
in any currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency (the "Required
Currency"), except as otherwise specified with respect to such Securities as
contemplated by Section 2.01, the obligation of the Company to make any payment
of the principal thereof, or the premium or interest thereon, shall not be
discharged or satisfied by any tender by the Company, or recovery by the
Trustee, in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent
that such tender or recovery shall result in the Trustee timely holding the full
amount of the Required Currency then due and payable. If any such tender or
recovery is in a currency other than the Required Currency, the Trustee may take
such actions as it considers appropriate to exchange such
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currency for the Required Currency. The costs and risks of any such exchange,
including, without limitation, the risks of delay and exchange rate fluctuation,
shall be borne by the Company, the Company shall remain fully liable for any
shortfall or delinquency in the full amount of Required Currency then due and
payable, and in no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable therefor except in
the case of its negligence or willful misconduct.
SECTION 2.13. The Company in issuing Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers
(if then generally in use) and, if so used, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP"
numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders of Securities;
provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or contained in
any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall
not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall
promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
ARTICLE THREE
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
SECTION 3.01. The Company may redeem the Securities of any series
issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms
established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
SECTION 3.02. (a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such
right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any
series in accordance with the right reserved so to do, it shall give notice of
such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by
mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than
30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption of that
series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the
Security Register. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the
registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such
notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in
whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of
the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any
other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the
expiration of any restriction on such redemption or subject to
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compliance with certain conditions provided in the terms of such Securities or
elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an
Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction or
condition.
Unless otherwise so provided as to a particular series of Securities, if at
the time of mailing of any notice of redemption the Company shall not have
deposited with the paying agent an amount in cash sufficient to redeem all of
the Securities called for redemption, including accrued interest to the date
fixed for redemption, such notice shall state that it is subject to the receipt
of redemption moneys by the paying agent on or before the date fixed for
redemption (unless such redemption is mandatory) and such notice shall be of no
effect unless such moneys are so received on or before such date.
Each such notice of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed
(including CUSIP numbers, if any), specify the date fixed for redemption and the
redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and
shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be
redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company, upon presentation
and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for
redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said
date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking
fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be
redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed
in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed.
In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to
such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender
of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal
amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
(b) The Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days' notice in advance
of the date fixed for redemption (unless the Trustee shall agree to a shorter
period) and, in the case of redemption of less than all the Securities of a
series, as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be
redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner
as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion and which may provide
for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof, subject to Sections 2.01(xi) and (xiv)) of the principal
amount of
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such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000 (subject as aforesaid), the
Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in
writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part.
The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of
instructions signed on its behalf by an Authorized Officer, instruct the Trustee
or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular
series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth
in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as
the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice
of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the
Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the
Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register,
transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom,
sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail
that may be required under the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 3.03. (a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been
completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the
series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on
the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption
price, together with, subject to the Company Order or supplemental indenture
hereto establishing the terms of such series of Securities, interest accrued to
the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of
Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption,
unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and
accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On
presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for
redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities
shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series,
together with, subject to the Company Order or supplemental indenture hereto
establishing the terms of such series of Securities, interest accrued thereon to
the date fixed for redemption.
(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series which is to be
redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall
deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or
Securities of the same
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series, of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed
portion of the Security so presented.
SECTION 3.04. The provisions of this Section 3.04 and Sections 3.05 and
3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of
a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for
Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of
Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund
payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the
terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking
fund payment". If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the
cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided
in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of
Securities of such series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such
series.
SECTION 3.05. The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a
series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (ii) may apply as a
credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of
the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application
of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such
Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory
sinking fund payment; provided that such Securities have not been previously so
credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the
Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption
through operation of the mandatory sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory
sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 3.06. Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment
date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund
payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion
thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities
of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will,
together with such Officers' Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities
to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment
date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking
fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause
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notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense
of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02, except that the notice of
redemption shall also state that the Securities of such series are being
redeemed by operation of the sinking fund and the sinking fund payment date.
Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be
made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.
ARTICLE FOUR
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
The Company covenants and agrees for each series of the Securities as
follows:
SECTION 4.01. The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be
paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of
that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and
established with respect to such Securities.
SECTION 4.02. So long as any series of the Securities remain
outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency with respect to
each such series, which shall be in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State
of New York or at such other location or locations as may be designated as
provided in this Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be
presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as
hereinabove authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii)
notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that
series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue
with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice
signed by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee, designate some
other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the
Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail
to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and
demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and
the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such
presentations, notices and demands. The Trustee will initially act as paying
agent for the Securities.
The Company may also from time to time, by written notice signed by an
Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee, designate one or more other
offices or agencies for the foregoing purposes within or outside the Borough of
Manhattan, City of New York,
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and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no
such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its
obligations to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, City of
New York for the foregoing purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice
to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
SECTION 4.03. (a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents
for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company
will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an
instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the
provisions of this Section:
(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the
Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the
Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the
benefit of the persons entitled thereto;
(2) that it will give the Trustee prompt notice of any failure by the
Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of
the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of
that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure
referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written
request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in
trust by such paying agent; and
(4) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set
forth in this Indenture.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any
series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of
(and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside,
segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto a
sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so
becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such
persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the
Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such
Securities) to take
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such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any
series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the
paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or
interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the
persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying
agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action
or failure so to act.
(c) Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the
agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the
provisions of Section 11.04, and (ii) the Company may at any time, for the
purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any
other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums
held in trust by the Company or such paying agent, such sums to be held by the
Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were
held by the Company or such paying agent; and, upon such payment by any paying
agent to the Trustee, such paying agent shall be released from all further
liability with respect to such money.
SECTION 4.04. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a
vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in
Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee
hereunder.
SECTION 4.05. The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain
outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or
convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the
provisions of Article Ten hereof are complied with.
SECTION 4.06. In the event that the Company issues a Discount Security,
the Company shall file with the Trustee at or prior to the time of the
authentication of such Discount Security a written notice, in such form as
mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Trustee, specifying the amount of
original issue discount that will be accrued on such Discount Security in each
calendar year from the date of issuance to the maturity thereof.
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ARTICLE FIVE
SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY
AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 5.01. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Trustee (a) on each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03) for the
Securities of each Tranche of a series a list, in such form as the Trustee may
reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of such Tranche of
Securities as of such regular record date, provided, that the Company shall not
be obligated to furnish or cause to be furnished such list at any time that the
list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the
Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in
writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a
list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the
time such list is furnished; provided, however, no such list need be furnished
for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
SECTION 5.02. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as
is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of
the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as
provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of holders of
Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if
acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) In case three or more holders of Securities of a series (hereinafter
referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the
Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a
period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such
application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders
of Securities of such series or holders of all Securities with respect to their
rights under this Indenture or under such Securities, and is accompanied by a
copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose
to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt
of such application, at its election, either:
(1) afford to such applicants access to the information preserved at
the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a)
of this Section 5.02; or
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(2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of
Securities of such series or of all Securities, as the case may be, whose
names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the
Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 5.02, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such
Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified
in such application.
(d) If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to
such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such
applicants, mail to each holder of such series or of all Securities, as the case
may be, whose name and address appears in the information preserved at the time
by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 5.02, a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is
specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the
Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the
payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after
such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the
Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written
statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would
be contrary to the best interests of the holders of Securities of such series or
of all Securities, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable
law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the
Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the
written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such
objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such
objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing,
that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so
declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such
Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the
renewal of such tender; otherwise, the Trustee shall be relieved of any
obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.
(e) Each and every holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the
same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the
Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be held
accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names
and addresses of the holders of Securities in accordance with the provisions of
subsection (c) of this Section, regardless of the source from
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which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held
accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under
said subsection (c).
SECTION 5.03. (a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the
Trustee, within 30 days after the Company is required to file the same with the
Commission, a copy of the annual reports and of the information, documents and
other reports (or a copy of such portions of any of the foregoing as the
Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the
Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file
information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to
file with the Trustee and, unless the Commission shall not accept such
information, documents or reports, the Commission, in accordance with the rules
and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the
supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be
required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, in respect of a security
listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed
from time to time in such rules and regulations.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the
Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to
time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with
respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided
for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and
regulations.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, or reputable over-night delivery service which provides for
evidence of receipt, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear
upon the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the
Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be
filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section as may
be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the
Commission.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees to furnish to the Trustee, on or
before May 15 in each calendar year in which any of the Securities are
outstanding, or on or before such other day in each calendar year as the Company
and the Trustee may from time to time agree upon, a certificate from the
principal executive
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officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, as to his
or her knowledge, of the Company's compliance with all conditions and covenants
under this Indenture. For purposes of this subsection (d), such compliance shall
be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice
provided under this Indenture.
(e) Delivery of such information, documents or reports to the Trustee
pursuant to Section 5.03(a) or 5.03(b) is for informational purposes only and
the Trustee's receipt thereof shall not constitute constructive notice of any
information contained therein or determinable from information contained
therein, including, in the case of Section 5.03(b), the Company's compliance
with any of the covenants hereunder.
SECTION 5.04. (a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports
concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required
pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided
pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Trustee shall, within 60 days after each September 15th following the date of
this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such September
15th, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).
(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which
the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company
will promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities are listed on any stock
exchange and of any delisting thereof.
ARTICLE SIX
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01. (a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a
particular series, "Event of Default" means any one or more of the following
events which has occurred and is continuing:
(1) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of
the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and
payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (subject
to the deferral of any due date in the case of an extension period);
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(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any,
on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become
due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or
otherwise;
(3) default in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment
or analogous obligation as and when the same shall become due and payable
by the terms of the Securities of that series, and continuance of such
default for a period of 30 days;
(4) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any
other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company with
respect to that series contained in such Securities or otherwise
established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section
2.01 hereof or contained in this Indenture (other than a covenant or
agreement which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for
the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for
a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure,
requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice
of Default" hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee,
by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the
holders of at least twenty-five percent in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities of that series at the time outstanding;
(5) a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises
shall have been entered adjudging the Company as bankrupt or insolvent, or
approving as properly filed a petition seeking liquidation or
reorganization of the Company under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any
other similar applicable Federal or State law, and such decree or order
shall have continued unvacated and unstayed for a period of 90 consecutive
days; or an involuntary case shall be commenced under such Code in respect
of the Company and shall continue undismissed for a period of 90
consecutive days or an order for relief in such case shall have been
entered; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the
premises shall have been entered for the appointment on the ground of
insolvency or bankruptcy of a receiver or custodian or liquidator or
trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or of its
property, or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such
decree or order shall have remained in force unvacated and unstayed for
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a period of 90 consecutive days;
(6) the Company shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a
voluntary bankrupt, or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy
proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent
seeking liquidation or reorganization under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or
any other similar applicable Federal or State law, or shall consent to the
filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the appointment on the
ground of insolvency or bankruptcy of a receiver or custodian or liquidator
or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of it or of its
property, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(7) the occurrence of any other Event of Default with respect to
Securities of such series, as contemplated by Section 2.01 hereof.
(b) The Company shall file with the Trustee written notice of the
occurrence of any Event of Default within five Business Days of the Company's
becoming aware of any such Event of Default. In each and every such case, unless
the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due
and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than twenty-five
percent in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then
outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee
if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal (or, if any of such
Securities are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount thereof
as may be specified by their terms as contemplated by Section 2.01) of all the
Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such
declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable,
anything contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of that series or
established with respect to that series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof to the
contrary notwithstanding.
(c) Section 6.01(b), however, is subject to the condition that if, at any
time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so
declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of
the monies due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the
Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all
matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the
principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series
which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon
such principal
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and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under
applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum
expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or
deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06, and any and
all defaults under the Indenture, other than the nonpayment of principal on
Securities of that series which shall not have become due by their terms, shall
have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06, then and in every such
case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of that series then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the
Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences with
respect to that series of Securities; but no such rescission and annulment shall
extend to or shall affect any subsequent default, or shall impair any right
consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with
respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings
shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or
annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the
Trustee, then and in every such case the Company and the Trustee shall be
restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all
rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as
though no such proceedings had been taken.
SECTION 6.02. (a) The Company covenants that in case an Event of Default
described in subsection 6.01(a)(1) or (a)(2) shall have occurred and be
continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for
the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount
that then shall have become due and payable on all such Securities for principal
(and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest
upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment
of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and without duplication of
any other amounts paid by the Company in respect thereof) upon overdue
installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of
that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable
to the Trustee under Section 7.06.
(b) In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such
demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall
be entitled and empowered to
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institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of
the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to
judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree
against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and
collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or
other obligor upon the Securities of that series wherever situated the monies
adjudged or decreed to be payable.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or other judicial
proceedings affecting the Company, any other obligor on such Securities, or the
creditors or property of either, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in
such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court
and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such
proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable
in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of
such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company or such
other obligor under this Indenture at the date of institution of such
proceedings and for any additional amount which may become due and payable by
the Company or such other obligor after such date, and to collect and receive
any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to
distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee
under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or
reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such
series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee
shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders,
to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.06.
(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or
under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series,
may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities,
or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and
any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its
own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall,
after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section
7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such
series.
In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion
proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in
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it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee
shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at
law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific
enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of
the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other
legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any
plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize
the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such
proceeding.
SECTION 6.03. Any monies collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section
6.02 with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the
order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the
distribution of such monies on account of principal (or premium, if any) or
interest, upon presentation of the several Securities of that series, and
stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof
if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of
all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon
Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest,
in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been
collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according
to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and
premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: To the Company.
SECTION 6.04. No holder of any Security of any series shall have any
right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute
any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect
to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any
other remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the
Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the
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continuance thereof with respect to Securities of such series specifying such
Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided, and unless also the holders of not
less than twenty-five percent in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
such series then outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to
institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder
and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may
require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or
thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request
and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or
proceeding; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by
the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such
taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of
such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by
availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the
rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to
obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any
right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the
equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series.
For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and
every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be
given either at law or in equity.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, however, the right
of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after
the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of
redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of
any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not
be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder.
SECTION 6.05. (a) All powers and remedies given by this Article to the
Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any others thereof or of any other powers
and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by
judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of
the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise
established with respect to such Securities.
(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the
Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon
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any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such
right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an
acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every
power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the
Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be
deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
SECTION 6.06. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities of any series at the time outstanding, determined in
accordance with Section 8.04, shall have the right to direct the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such
series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any
rule of law or with this Indenture or unduly prejudicial to the rights of
holders of Securities of any other series at the time outstanding determined in
accordance with Section 8.04 not parties thereto. Subject to the provisions of
Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such
direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or
Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed might involve
the Trustee in personal liability. The holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time outstanding
affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may on behalf of
the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in
the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant
to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a
default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on,
any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by
the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default
has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest
and principal otherwise than by acceleration and any premium has been deposited
with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c))) or a call for redemption
of Securities of that series. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby
shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company,
the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored
to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
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SECTION 6.07. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of
a default with respect to a particular series, transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, to the holders of Securities of that series, as their names and
addresses appear upon the Security Register, notice of all defaults with respect
to that series known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured
or waived before the giving of such notice (the term "defaults" for the purposes
of this Section being hereby defined to be the events specified in subsections
(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of Section 6.01(a), not including any
periods of grace provided for therein and irrespective of the giving of notice
provided for by subsection (4) of Section 6.01(a)); provided, that, except in
the case of default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest on any of the Securities of that series or in the payment of any
sinking or analogous fund installment established with respect to that series,
the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the
board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors
and/or Responsible Officers, of the Trustee in good faith determine that the
withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of Securities of
that series; provided further, that in the case of any default of the character
specified in Section 6.01(a)(4) with respect to Securities of such series no
such notice to the holders of the Securities of that series shall be given until
at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any default, except
(i) a default under subsection (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3) or (a)(4) of Section 6.01
as long as the Trustee is acting as paying agent for such series of Securities
or (ii) any default as to which the Trustee shall have received written notice
or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this Indenture shall
have obtained written notice.
SECTION 6.08. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of
any Securities by his or her acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed,
that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of
any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for
any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant
in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such
court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having
due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such
party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to
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any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any
Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit
instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the
principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on
or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established
pursuant to this Indenture.
ARTICLE SEVEN
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. (a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of
Default with respect to Securities of a series and after the curing of all
Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series which may have
occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to Securities of such series
such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to
Securities of a series has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the
Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of
care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under
the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to
Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events
of Default with respect to that series which may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with
respect to Securities of such series be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be
liable with respect to Securities of such series except for the
performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set
forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall
be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
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(ii) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the
Trustee may with respect to Securities of such series conclusively
rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions
furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which
by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to
the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of
mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in
good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee,
unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining
the pertinent facts;
(3) the 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 written
direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
the Securities of any series at the time outstanding relating to the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee
under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series; and
(4) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require
the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur or risk
personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in
the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Trustee reasonably
believes that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably
assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity
against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
(c) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this
Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording
protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section
7.01.
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SECTION 7.02. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in
acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, demand,
approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it (i) to be
genuine and (ii) to have been signed or presented by the proper party or
parties;
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned
herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Officers'
Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed
herein);
(c) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice
of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or
omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of
any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless
such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity
satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be
incurred therein or thereby; nothing herein contained shall, however, relieve
the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with
respect to a series of the Securities (which has not been cured or waived) to
exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers
vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in
their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances
in the conduct of his own affairs;
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the
discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, direction, order, demand, approval,
bond, security, or other
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papers or documents, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of not
less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of the
particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.04);
provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee
of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making
of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured
to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture,
the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or
liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every
such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall
be repaid by the Company upon demand. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Trustee, in its direction, may make such further inquiry or investigation into
such facts or matters as it may see fit. In making any investigation required or
authorized by this subparagraph, the Trustee shall be entitled to examine books,
records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;
(g) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder;
(h) The permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this
Indenture shall not be construed as a duty;
(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to
the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are
extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities
hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;
and
(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting
forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time
to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which certificate may be
signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers' Certificate, including any
person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered
and not superseded.
SECTION 7.03. (a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities
(other than the Certificate of Authentication on the Securities) shall be taken
as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for
the correctness of the
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same.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency
of this Indenture or of the Securities.
(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the
Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for
the use or application of any monies paid over by the Trustee in accordance with
any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for
the use or application of any monies received by any paying agent other than the
Trustee.
SECTION 7.04. The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in
its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of
Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying
agent or Security Registrar.
SECTION 7.05. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04, all monies
received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held
in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee
shall be under no liability for interest on any monies received by it hereunder
except such as it may agree in writing with the Company to pay thereon.
SECTION 7.06. (a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the
Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to such
compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee
(which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust) for all services rendered by it
in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and
performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and the
Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in
accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the
reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its
counsel and agents and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any
such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence, willful
misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee
(and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful
misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee and arising out
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of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust,
including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any
claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its
powers or duties hereunder.
(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate and
indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee 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 Trustee as such,
except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular
Securities.
(c) Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under
applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
connection with an Event of Default, the expenses (including reasonable charges
and expenses of its counsel) and compensation for its services are intended to
constitute expenses of administration under applicable Federal or state
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.
(d) The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture or the appointment of a successor trustee.
SECTION 7.07. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in
the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it
necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or
suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other
evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the
absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively
proved and established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee and
such certificate, in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall
be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be
taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
SECTION 7.08. If the Trustee has acquired or shall acquire a conflicting
interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either
eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by,
and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.
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SECTION 7.09. There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the
Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized
and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State
or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other
person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws
to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at
least 50 million dollars, and subject to supervision or examination by Federal,
State, Territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the
purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall
resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
SECTION 7.10. (a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed,
may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by
giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of
resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders of such
series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon
receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a
successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written
instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy
of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to
the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and
have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of
resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to
Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a
bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may,
subject to the provisions of Section 6.08, on behalf of himself and all others
similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor
trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
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(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section
7.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder
who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least
six months; or
(2) The Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after written request
therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be
adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its
property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or
control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of
rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation;
then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all
Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate,
executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall
be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee,
or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.08, unless, with respect to
subsection (b)(1) above, the Trustee's duty to resign is stayed as provided in
Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Securityholder who has been a
bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on
behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a
successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may
deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of any series at the time outstanding may at any time remove the
Trustee with respect to such series and appoint a successor trustee. If no
successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment
within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of removal, the Trustee being
removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of
a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor trustee with respect to the Securities
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of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become
effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in
Section 7.11.
(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be
appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such
series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the
Securities of any particular series.
SECTION 7.11. (a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor
trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so
appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the
retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such
successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee;
but, on the request of the Company or the successor trustee, such retiring
Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument
transferring to such successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the
retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor
trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject
to any prior lien provided for in Section 7.06(b).
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the
retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of
one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall
contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor trustee all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that
or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates, (2)
shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to
confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee
with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring
Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
(3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or
in such supplemental indenture shall
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constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee
shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any
trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no
Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any
other Trustee hereunder; and upon the execution and delivery of such
supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall
become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall
with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment
of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the
exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and
obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor
trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect
to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such
successor trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor
trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such
successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture,
the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to
the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such
successor trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time
of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act and eligible under this Article.
(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in
this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such
trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders,
as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company
fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by
the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be
transmitted at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 7.12. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any
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corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the
Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially
all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of
the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be qualified under the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act and eligible under the provisions of
Section 7.09, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on
the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not
delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or
consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and
deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such
successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
SECTION 7.13. If and when the Trustee shall become a creditor of the
Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject
to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding collection of claims
against the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities).
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 8.01. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders
of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of
any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking
of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the
holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined
therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of
similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in person or
by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination
of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have
no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
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or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the
Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be
deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether
Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Securities of that
series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that
purpose the outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the
record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such
Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall
become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six
months after the record date.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal
amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction,
consent or waiver under this Indenture, the principal amount of a Discount
Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the
amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of
such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof
pursuant to Section 6.01.
SECTION 8.02. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the
execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require
notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any person of
any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such person of any
instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register
of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.
(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred
to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
SECTION 8.03. Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer
of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security
Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name such Security shall be
registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security
(whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of
ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the
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Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the
principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such
Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary.
SECTION 8.04. In determining whether the holders of the requisite
aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred
in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities of that
series which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of
that series or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by
or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities
of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the
purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining
whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent
or waiver, only Securities of such series which the Trustee actually knows are
so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in
good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if
the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's
right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a
person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or
indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a
dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of
counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
SECTION 8.05. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the
Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders
of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action,
any holder of a Security of that series which is shown by the evidence to be
included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action
may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as
provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security.
Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be
conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners
of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on
registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or
not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken
by
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the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with
such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the
holders of all the Securities of that series.
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.01. In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise
authorized by this Indenture, the Company, when authorized by a Board
Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an
indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of
the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another person to the Company, and the
assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained
herein or otherwise established with respect to the Securities; or
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants,
restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders of the
Securities of all or any series, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence
and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions,
conditions or provisions a default or an Event of Default with respect to such
series permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided
in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, however, that in respect of any
such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental
indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which
period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults)
or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the
remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
such series to waive such default; or
(c) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental
indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions
arising under this Indenture as shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of
this Indenture and shall not materially and adversely affect the
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interests of the holders of the Securities of any series; or
(d) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture or to
add any new provision to this Indenture; provided, however, that such change,
elimination or addition shall become effective only when there is no Security
outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental
indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provisions; or
(e) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
permitted by Section 2.01; or
(f) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any
series of outstanding Securities; or
(g) to provide collateral security for the Securities; or
(h) to provide for the authentication and delivery of bearer securities
and coupons appertaining thereto representing interest, if any, thereon and for
the procedures for the registration, exchange and replacement thereof and for
the giving of notice to, and the solicitation of the vote or consent of, the
holders thereof, and for any other matters incidental thereto; or
(i) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by
a separate or successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more
series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall
be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Article
Seven; or
(j) to change any place or places where (1) the principal of and premium,
if any, and interest, if any, on all or any series of Securities shall be
payable, (2) all or any series of Securities may be surrendered for registration
of transfer, (3) all or any series of Securities may be surrendered for exchange
and (4) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of all or any
series of Securities and this Indenture may be served; provided, however, that
any such place shall be located in New York, New York or be the principal office
of the Company; or
(k) to provide for the payment by the Company of additional amounts in
respect of certain taxes imposed on certain holders and for the treatment of
such additional amounts as interest and for all matters incidental thereto; or
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(l) to provide for the issuance of Securities denominated in a currency
other than Dollars or in a composite currency and for all matters incidental
thereto.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust Indenture
Act as in effect at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture or
at any time thereafter shall be amended and
(x) if any such amendment shall require one or more changes to any
provisions hereof or the inclusion herein of any additional provisions, or
shall by operation of law be deemed to effect such changes or incorporate
such provisions by reference or otherwise, this Indenture shall be deemed
to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment to the Trust
Indenture Act, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of
any Securityholders, enter into a supplemental indenture hereto to effect
or evidence such changes or additional provisions; or
(y) if any such amendment shall permit one or more changes to, or the
elimination of, any provisions hereof which, at the date of the execution
and delivery hereof or at any time thereafter, are required by the Trust
Indenture Act to be contained herein, this Indenture shall be deemed to
have been amended to effect such changes or elimination, and the Company
and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Securityholders, enter into
a supplemental indenture hereto to effect such changes or elimination; or
(z) if, by reason of any such amendment, one or more provisions
which, at the date of the execution and delivery hereof or at any time
thereafter, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein
shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference or otherwise, or
otherwise made applicable hereto, and shall no longer be required to be
contained herein, the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of
any Securityholders, enter into a supplemental indenture hereto to effect
the elimination of such provisions.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution
of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate
agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained, but the Trustee
shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture which
affects the Trustee's
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own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may
be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of
any of the Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the
provisions of Section 9.02.
SECTION 9.02. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of
the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures
at the time outstanding voting as one class, the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter
into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of
adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the
provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in
any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this
Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i)
extend the fixed maturity date or dates of any Securities of any series, (ii)
extend the time of payment of interest or on any sinking fund payment, other
than extensions permitted pursuant to Section 2.01, (iii) reduce the rate of
interest on any Security, (iv) reduce the principal amount due for payment on
any Security, (v) make the principal, premium, if any, or interest on a Security
payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in such Security, (vi)
modify any redemption or repurchase right to the detriment of a Securityholder,
(vii) impair the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment,
(viii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are
required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, or reduce the percentage
of Securities, the holders of which are required to waive any covenant or
default and its consequences, (ix) waive any past payment default, or (x) modify
any provision of Section 9.02, without the consent of the holders of each
Security then outstanding and affected thereby.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a Board Resolution
authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the
filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required
to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the
execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental
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indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this
Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but
shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the
benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the
rights of holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or
other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture
of the holders of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any
series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any
proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent
shall approve the substance thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee
shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in
general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the
Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses
appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such
notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect
the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
SECTION 9.03. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant
to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall,
with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in
accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the
Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall
thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all
respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions
of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the
terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 9.04. Securities of any series, affected by a supplemental
indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental
indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article, Article Two or Article
Seven or of Section 10.01, may bear a notation in form approved by the
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Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which
such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental
indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so
modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any
modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may
be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in
exchange for the Securities of that series then outstanding.
SECTION 9.05. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01,
shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture
executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms
to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the
provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof.
ARTICLE TEN
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE
SECTION 10.01. The Company covenants that it will not merge into or
consolidate with any other corporation or other entity (whether or not
affiliated with the Company) or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all of its property to any other corporation or
other entity (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or
successors), unless (i) such other corporation or Person shall expressly assume
the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and
interest on all the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of
each series, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and
observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect
to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section
2.01 to be kept or performed by the Company by supplemental indenture
satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such
corporation or Person and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such merger or
consolidation, or such sale, conveyance, transfer or lease or other disposition,
no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Any Person
may merge into or consolidate with the Company provided that the Company is the
surviving corporation.
SECTION 10.02. (a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the
successor corporation, by supplemental
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indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the
Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if
any, and interest on all of the Securities of all series outstanding and the due
and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this
Indenture or established with respect to each series of the Securities pursuant
to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed by the Company with respect to each
series, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for the
Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the
first part, and thereupon (provided, that in the case of a lease, the term of
the lease is at least as long as the longest maturity of any Securities
outstanding at such time) the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all
obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities. Such
successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in
its own name or in the name of the Company or any other predecessor obligor on
the Securities, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which
theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the
Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor company, instead of the Company,
and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture
prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities
which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the
predecessor Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities which
such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to
the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects
have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities
theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture
as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution
hereof.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer
or other disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance)
may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall
prevent the Company from merging into itself or acquiring by purchase or
otherwise all or any part of the property of any other corporation (whether or
not affiliated with the Company).
SECTION 10.03. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01,
shall receive an Officers' Certificate and an
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Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger,
sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply
with the provisions of this Article.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE;
UNCLAIMED MONIES
SECTION 11.01. Securities of a series may be defeased in accordance with
their terms and, unless the Company Order or supplemental indenture establishing
the series otherwise provides, in accordance with this Article.
The Company at any time may terminate as to a series all of its obligations
for such series under this Indenture ("legal defeasance option"). The Company at
any time may terminate as to a series its obligations, if any, under any
restrictive covenant, including under Section 4.05 and Article 10, which may be
applicable to a particular series ("covenant defeasance option"). However, in
the case of the legal defeasance option, the Company's obligations in Sections
2.05, 2.07, 4.02, 7.06, 7.10 and 11.04 shall survive until the Securities of the
series are no longer outstanding; thereafter the Company's obligations in
Sections 7.06, 7.10 and 11.04 shall survive.
The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its
prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If the Company exercises its
legal defeasance option, a series may not be accelerated because of an Event of
Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, a series may
not be accelerated by reference to any restrictive covenant which may be
applicable to a particular series so defeased under the terms of the series.
The Company may exercise as to a series its legal defeasance option or its
covenant defeasance option if:
(1) The Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee or
another trustee (x) money in an amount which shall be sufficient; or (y)
Eligible Obligations the principal of and the interest on which when due,
without regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide moneys, which,
together with the money, if any, deposited or held by the Trustee or such
other trustee, shall be sufficient, as demonstrated by evidence in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to the
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Trustee; or (z) a combination of money and Eligible Obligations which shall
be sufficient, as demonstrated by evidence in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, due and to become due on such Securities on or prior to
maturity; and
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that holders of the series will not recognize income, gain or loss
for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance but will
realize income gain or loss on the Securities, including payments of
interest thereon, in the same amounts and in the same manner and at the
same time as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred
and which, in the case of legal defeasance, shall be (x) accompanied by a
ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued to the Company or (y) based
on a change in Federal income tax law or regulation occurring after the
date hereof.
In the event the Company exercises its option to effect a covenant
defeasance with respect to the Securities of any series as described above and
the Securities of that series are thereafter declared due and payable because of
the occurrence of any Event of Default other than the Event of Default caused by
failing to comply with the covenants which are defeased, the amount of money and
securities on deposit with the Trustee may not be sufficient to pay amounts due
on the Securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from
such Event of Default. However, the Company shall remain liable for such
payments.
SECTION 11.02. All monies or Eligible Obligations deposited with the
Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be
available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent
(including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the
particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such
monies or Eligible Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.
SECTION 11.03. In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture all monies or Eligible Obligations then held by any paying agent under
the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to
the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further
liability with respect to such monies or Eligible Obligations.
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SECTION 11.04. Any monies or Eligible Obligations deposited with any
paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment
of principal of or premium or interest on the Securities of a particular series
that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for
at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and
payable, upon the written request of the Company and unless otherwise required
by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property
law, shall be repaid to the Company on October 31 of each year or (if then held
by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying
agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect
to such monies or Eligible Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities
entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general
creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
ARTICLE TWELVE
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 12.01. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or
agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon
or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator,
stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the
Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or
through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by
virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this
Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations,
and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be
incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of
the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them,
because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by
reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture
or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such
personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity
or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims
against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such,
because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by
reason of
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the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any
of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released
as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture
and the issuance of such Securities.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 13.01. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in
this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its
successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 13.02. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture
authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or
officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and
effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that
shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.
SECTION 13.03. The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority
of two-thirds of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may
surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company under this Indenture and
thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and
as to any successor corporation.
SECTION 13.04. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein any notice or
demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be
given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities to or on the
Company may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in
a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed in writing by
the Company with the Trustee), as follows: General Electric Company, 3135 Easton
Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut 06828, Attention: Treasurer or by facsimile at
(203) 585-1191 Attention: Treasurer. Any notice, election, request or demand by
the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have
been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing
at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
SECTION 13.05. This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a
contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes
shall be construed in accordance with
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the laws of said State, without regard to conflicts of laws provisions thereof.
SECTION 13.06. (a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to
the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture,
the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that
all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the
opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with,
except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the
furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this
Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional
certificate or opinion need be furnished.
(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and
delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
in this Indenture (other than the certificate provided pursuant to Section
5.03(d) of this Indenture) shall include (1) a statement that the person making
such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief
statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon
which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are
based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he or she has made
such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to
express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has
been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of
such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 13.07. Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a
Company Order, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this
Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of principal or an Interest
Payment Date of any Security or the date of redemption, purchase or repayment of
any Security shall not be a Business Day then payment of interest or principal
(and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the
same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption,
and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
SECTION 13.08. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture
limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by the Trust Indenture
Act, such imposed duties shall control.
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SECTION 13.09. This Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 13.10. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of
such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if
such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained
herein or therein.
SECTION 13.11. The Company will have the right at all times to assign any
of its rights or obligations under the Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company; provided that, in the event of any such
assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to
the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the
parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may
not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.
SECTION 13.12. The Article and Section Headings in this Indenture and the
Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction
hereof.
SECTION 13.13. Whenever this Indenture provides for any action by, or the
determination of any rights of, holders of Securities of any series in which not
all of such Securities are denominated in the same currency, in the absence of
any provision to the contrary in the form of Security of any particular series,
any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a currency other than
Dollars shall be treated for any such action or determination of rights as that
amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable
basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Securities of such
series (if any) for such action or determination of rights (or, if there shall
be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date
of such action or determination of rights) as the Company may specify in a
written notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the
Trustee may determine.
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The Bank of New York, as Trustee, hereby accepts the trusts in this
Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set
forth.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
By: /s/ Kathryn A. Cassidy
------------------------
Name: Kathryn A. Cassidy
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee
By: /s/ Ming Ryan
--------------
Name: Ming Ryan
Title: Vice President
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