-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, PLkZbTNRqx3r17NTDF9RTEXUNAy+8F6dEZqhKKXkhTkxOzkn4CVI5h8IMWVT0M0T txhFzbcbrW7rdNdwkyjtrQ== 0001193125-05-043907.txt : 20050308 0001193125-05-043907.hdr.sgml : 20050308 20050307210621 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-05-043907 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 7 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050308 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050307 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000101063 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION - CROPS [0100] IRS NUMBER: 041923360 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NJ FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-123181 FILM NUMBER: 05665325 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 250 E FIFTH ST CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45202 BUSINESS PHONE: 5137848880 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC. STREET 2: 250 EAST FIFTH STREET CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45202 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: UNITED BRANDS CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19900403 S-3 1 ds3.htm FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT Form S-3 Registration Statement
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2005

Registration No. 333-          


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM S-3


REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


New Jersey   04-1923360

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

250 East Fifth Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(513) 784-8000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)


Robert W. Olson, Esq.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

250 East Fifth Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(513) 784-8804

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


Copies to:

Gregory A. Fernicola, Esq.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

4 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

(212) 735-3000


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:    From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.


If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.  ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered (1)   

Amount to be

Registered (2)(3)

  

Proposed Maximum
Offering Price

Per Unit (3)(4)

  

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price (2)(3)(5)

  

Amount of

Registration Fee

Debt Securities

                         

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

                         

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

                         

Stock Purchase Contracts

                         

Stock Purchase Units

                         

Total

   $ 350,000,000         $ 350,000,000    $ 41,195

(1) Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder. There is being registered hereunder such indeterminate number or amount of Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable antidilution provisions.
(2) If any Debt Securities are issued at an original issue discount, then such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price of $350,000,000. Subject to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), in no event will the aggregate initial offering price of Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units issued under this Registration Statement exceed $350,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies.
(3) Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
(4) The proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with, and at the time of, the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder.
(5) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.



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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Prospectus

 

Subject to Completion, dated March 8, 2005

 

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

$350,000,000

 

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

 


 

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. may offer from time to time unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, stock purchase contracts to purchase shares of our preferred stock or common stock, or stock purchase units consisting of (a) stock purchase contracts; and/or (b) debt securities or debt obligations of third parties (including United States treasury securities; other stock purchase contracts or common stock), that would secure the holders’ obligations to purchase or to sell, as the case may be, preferred stock or common stock under the stock purchase contract, having an aggregate initial public offering price not to exceed $350,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies. We may offer these securities on terms and at prices to be determined at the time of sale.

 

We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the risk factors incorporated by reference herein or included in any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest in our securities.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CQB.” Warrants to purchase shares of our common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CQBWS.” If we decide to seek a listing of any debt securities or preferred stock offered by this prospectus, the related prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which the securities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an application for listing, if any.

 

Our principal executive office is located at 250 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Our telephone number is (513) 784-8000.

 


 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2005


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

   1

ABOUT CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

   1

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   2

RISK FACTORS

   3

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   3

USE OF PROCEEDS

   4

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

   4

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

   5

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

   13

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

   18

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   19

LEGAL MATTERS

   21

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

   21

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $350,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the manner in which the securities will be offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. We urge you to read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references in this prospectus to “Chiquita,” the “Company,” “our,” “us,” and “we” refer to Chiquita Brands International, Inc. and its subsidiaries. References to “CBII” refer solely to the legal entity Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

 

ABOUT CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

We are a leading international marketer, producer and distributor of high-quality bananas and other fresh produce, which are sold under the Chiquita premium brands and other trademarks. We are one of the largest banana producers in the world and a major supplier of bananas in Europe and North America, where we hold the number one and number two market position for bananas, respectively. In addition to bananas, our fresh fruits and vegetables include apples, grapes, kiwis, melons, pears, pineapples, stone fruits, tomatoes and a variety of other fresh produce. We also distribute and market fresh-cut fruit and other branded food items. We sell our products in Europe, the United States and other international markets.

 

Anticipated Acquisition of Fresh Express

 

On February 22, 2005, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Performance Food Group Company to purchase its “Fresh Express” fresh-cut salad and fresh fruit business for $855 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and conditions to closing, including the expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, the completion of the Fresh Express 2004 Annual Audit and the receipt of financing. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2005.

 

The Fresh Express brand has earned the No. 1 share at 40 percent in the $2.7 billion retail value-added salads market, a fast-growing food category for grocery retailers, foodservice providers and quick-service restaurants. Fresh Express sells approximately $1 billion annually in value-added salads, all of which are marketed under the Fresh Express brand. In addition to its wide variety of salad products, Fresh Express began supplying and marketing fresh-cut fruit in 2002. Fresh Express operates a network of nine U.S. processing and distribution facilities.

 

* * *

 

We are incorporated in the State of New Jersey. Our principal executive offices are located at 250 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 and our telephone number is (513) 784-8000. Our website is www.chiquita.com. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports or other information that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20549. You may also receive copies of these documents upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Room. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. and other locations. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from commercial documents retrieval services and at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with the SEC into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC, including our annual, quarterly and current reports. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information that is modified or superseded by information contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. All documents filed (but not those that are furnished, unless expressly stated otherwise) by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the initial filing of the registration statement, whether before or after it is declared effective, and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities will be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any previously filed document.

 

The following documents have been filed by us with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:

 

    Our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the SEC on March 11, 2004;

 

    Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2004;

 

    Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004, filed with the SEC on August 6, 2004;

 

    Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004, filed with the SEC on November 5, 2004;

 

    Our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2004, September 14, 2004, September 22, 2004, September 28, 2004, September 30, 2004, October 4, 2004, January 12, 2005, January 18, 2005, February 23, 2005, February 24, 2005 and February 28, 2005; and

 

    The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B/A filed on March 19, 2002, and any amendment or report filed thereafter for the purpose of updating such information.

 

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests for such documents should be directed to:

 

Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

250 East Fifth Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Attention: Investor Relations Department

                 (telephone: (513) 784-6366)

 

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No person is authorized to give any information or represent anything not contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. We are only offering the securities in places where sales of those securities are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as information incorporated by reference, is current only as of the date of that information. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves risk. Each time that we issue new securities, risk factors, if appropriate, will be included or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement relating to the new securities. Certain risks are also referred to herein under “Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Investors are cautioned that certain statements made or incorporated by reference in this prospectus constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. These statements reflect management’s current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions and our performance. They are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including:

 

    the impact of changes in the European Union banana import regime as a result of the anticipated conversion to a tariff-only regime not later than 2006;

 

    our ability to successfully consummate our acquisition of Fresh Express and to integrate its operations with ours;

 

    natural disasters and unusual weather conditions;

 

    currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

    prices for our products;

 

    availability and costs of products and raw materials;

 

    operating efficiencies;

 

    our ability to realize continuing productivity improvements;

 

    risks inherent in operating in foreign countries, including government regulation, currency restrictions and other restraints, burdensome taxes, expropriation, threats to employees, political instability and terrorist activities, including extortion, and risks of U.S. and foreign governmental action in relation to us;

 

    the outcome of the Department of Justice investigation related to our former Colombian subsidiary that was sold in 2004;

 

    labor relations;

 

    actions of governmental bodies;

 

    the continuing availability of financing; and

 

    other market and competitive conditions.

 

The forward-looking statements speak as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and we undertake no obligation to update any such statements.

 

You should carefully read the factors described under the “Risk Factors” section in this prospectus as well as any risks described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement for a description of certain risks that could, among other things, cause our actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus will be used for general corporate purposes. These purposes may include, but are not limited to:

 

    working capital;

 

    capital expenditures;

 

    the repayment or refinancing of our indebtedness; and

 

    acquisitions.

 

If required, we will include a more detailed description of the use of proceeds from any specific offering of securities in the prospectus supplement related to that offering.

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for each of the last five years ended December 31, 2003 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

     Reorganized Company (a)

    Predecessor Company (a)

 
     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,


   

Year

Ended
December 31,
2003


   

Nine

Months
Ended
December 31,
2002


    Quarter
Ended
March 31,
2002


    Year Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

          2001

    2000

    1999

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

   1.55 x   2.84 x   2.53 x   (b )   (b )   (b )   (b )   (b )
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(a) On March 19, 2002, we (the parent holding company only), completed our financial restructuring under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. For financial reporting purposes, we used an effective date of March 31, 2002. References in these financial statements to “Predecessor Company” refer to us prior to March 31, 2002. References to “Reorganized Company” refer to us on and after March 31, 2002, after giving effect to the issuance of new securities in exchange for the previously outstanding securities in accordance with the Chapter 11 Reorganization Plan, and implementation of fresh start accounting. In accordance with financial reporting requirements for companies emerging from a Chapter 11 restructuring, financial information for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002 is not presented in our financial statements since such information would combine the results of the Predecessor Company and Reorganized Company.
(b) For these periods, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The amount of the coverage deficiency was $10.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2002, $189.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, $111.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, $98.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2000, and $71.4 million for the year ended December 31, 1999.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The debt securities will constitute either unsecured senior debt or unsecured subordinated debt. We will issue debt securities that will be senior debt under an indenture between us and LaSalle Bank National Association, as trustee (the “senior indenture”). We will issue debt securities that will be subordinated debt under an indenture between us and LaSalle Bank National Association, as the trustee (the “subordinated indenture”). This prospectus refers to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture individually as the “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” The term “trustee” refers to the trustee under each indenture, as appropriate.

 

The indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The indentures are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated indenture. The following summary of the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indentures, each of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge you to read the indenture that is applicable to you because it, and not the summary below, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities. You can obtain copies of the indentures by following the directions described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Capitalized terms used in the summary below have the meanings specified in the indentures. The definitions of capitalized terms are incorporated by reference in the following summary.

 

General

 

The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of CBII’s other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to our “Senior Indebtedness.” For additional information, see “—Subordination” below. As of December 31, 2004, all of our $349.5 million aggregate principal amount of existing debt would have ranked senior to the subordinated debt securities. At that date, the debt of CBII’s subsidiaries of $99.5 million would have ranked senior to the senior debt securities, and the remaining $250 million of our debt would have ranked equally with the senior debt securities. The indentures do not limit the amount of debt, either secured or unsecured, which may be issued by us under the indentures or otherwise. We may limit the maximum total principal amount for the debt securities of any series. However, any limit may be increased by resolution of our board of directors. We will establish the terms of each series of debt securities in a supplemental indenture, board resolution or company order. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series with the same or various maturities and may be sold at par, a premium or an original issue discount. Debt securities sold at an original issue discount may bear no interest or interest at a rate which is below market rates.

 

CBII is a holding company that conducts substantially all of its operations through its subsidiaries. Its only significant assets are the capital stock of its subsidiaries and its subsidiaries generate substantially all of its operating income and cash flow. As a result, dividends or advances from its subsidiaries are the principal source of funds necessary to meet its debt service obligations. Contractual provisions, such as loan and credit agreements of its subsidiaries, or laws, as well as its subsidiaries’ financial condition and operating requirements, may limit CBII’s ability to obtain cash from its subsidiaries that it may require to pay its debt service obligations, including payments on the debt securities. In addition, holders of debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all of the liabilities of CBII’s subsidiaries with regard to the assets and earnings of CBII’s subsidiaries.

 

Since CBII is a holding company, the right of CBII, and hence the rights of the creditors and stockholders of CBII, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is accordingly subject to prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of CBII itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized. As of December 31, 2004, CBII’s subsidiaries had $99.5 million aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding. The indentures do not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring debt or agreeing to limitations on their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us, although the terms of specific debt securities may include such limitations.

 

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Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of securities under the applicable indenture.

 

Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, each series of our senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other senior debt. The subordinated debt securities will rank junior in right of payment and be subordinate to all of our senior debt.

 

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series under the indentures. We will describe the particular terms of each series of debt securities we offer in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the terms of such debt securities being offered, including (to the extent such terms are applicable to such debt securities):

 

    the title of the debt securities;

 

    designation, aggregate principal amount, denomination and currency or currency unit;

 

    date of maturity;

 

    the price or prices at which we sell the debt securities and the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities will be issued;

 

    whether the debt securities are senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities;

 

    any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities and the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series;

 

    currency or currency units for which such debt securities may be purchased and in which principal of, premium, if any, and any interest will or may be payable;

 

    interest rate or rates (or the manner of calculation thereof), if any;

 

    the times at which any such interest will be payable;

 

    the date or dates from which interest will accrue on the debt securities, or the method used for determining those dates;

 

    the place or places where the principal and interest, if any, will be payable;

 

    any redemption, sinking fund or defeasance provisions;

 

    whether such debt securities will be issuable in registered form or bearer form or both and, if issuable in bearer form, restrictions applicable to the exchange of one form for another and to the offer, sale and delivery of certificates in bearer form;

 

    whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts on such debt securities held by a person who is not a “U.S. person” in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem such debt securities rather than pay such additional amounts;

 

    whether and under what circumstances we may from time to time, without the consent of holders of debt securities, issue additional debt securities, having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the debt securities being offered, except for the issue price and issue date and, in some cases, the first interest payment date, whereby such additional securities will, together with the then outstanding debt securities, constitute a single class of debt securities under the indentures, and will vote together on matters under the senior indenture;

 

    if material, federal income tax consequences;

 

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    whether and under what circumstances we will issue the debt securities in whole or in part as Global Securities as described below under “—Global Securities”;

 

    applicable conversion or exchange privileges;

 

    any restrictions on us or our subsidiaries; and

 

    any other specific terms of the offered debt securities, including any terms in lieu of those described in this prospectus and any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations such as those made a part of the applicable indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

 

For purposes of this prospectus, “U.S. person” means a citizen, national or resident of the United States of America, its territories, possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction (the “United States”), a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source.

 

Debt securities may be presented for exchange, and registered debt securities may be presented for transfer, in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the debt securities and as summarized in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with such exchange or transfer, but subject to the limitations provided in the applicable indenture. Debt securities in bearer form and the coupons, if any, appertaining to such debt securities will be transferable by delivery.

 

Subordination

 

The indebtedness represented by the subordinated debt securities is subordinated in right of payment to existing and future “Senior Indebtedness,” as described in the subordinated indenture and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The term “Senior Indebtedness” means:

 

    all indebtedness for money borrowed incurred by us, unless the terms of the instrument or instruments by which such indebtedness is incurred or created expressly provide that such indebtedness is subordinate to the subordinated debt securities or that such indebtedness is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities,

 

    any other indebtedness, obligation or liability incurred by us (including any guaranty, endorsement or other contingent obligation of ours in respect of, or to purchase, or otherwise acquire, any obligation of another), direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or matured or unmatured, which is specifically designated by us as Senior Indebtedness in the instruments evidencing such indebtedness, obligation or liability at the time of its issuance or incurrence, or

 

    any deferral, renewal or extension of any of the foregoing.

 

“Senior Indebtedness” does not include:

 

    our debt to any of our subsidiaries;

 

    any series of subordinated debt securities issued under the subordinated indenture, unless otherwise specified by the terms of any such series;

 

    any of our other debt which by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing it is specifically designated as being subordinated to or pari passu with the subordinated debt securities; and

 

    any trade payables.

 

The subordinated indenture does not limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, including indebtedness that ranks senior in priority of payment to the subordinated debt securities. A prospectus supplement relating to each series of subordinated debt securities will describe any subordination provisions applicable to such series in addition to or different from those described above.

 

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By reason of such subordination, in the event of dissolution, insolvency, bankruptcy or other similar proceedings, upon any distribution of assets, (i) the holders of subordinated debt securities will be required to pay over their share of such distribution in respect of the subordinated debt securities to the holders of Senior Indebtedness until such Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and (ii) creditors of ours who are not holders of Senior Indebtedness may recover less, ratably, than holders of Senior Indebtedness and may recover more, ratably, than holders of subordinated debt securities.

 

Conversion and Exchange

 

The terms, if any, on which debt securities of any series will be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, our preferred stock, another series of our debt securities, other securities, property or cash, or a combination of any of the foregoing, will be summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities. Such terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, either on a mandatory basis, at the option of the holder, or at our option, in which the number of shares or amount of our common stock, our preferred stock, another series of our debt securities, other securities, property or cash to be received by the holders of the debt securities would be calculated according to the factors and at such time as summarized in the related prospectus supplement.

 

Global Securities

 

Debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository (the “Depository”) identified in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. Unless otherwise specified by us, the Depository will be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York. Global Securities may be issued only in fully registered form and may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities that it represents, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository for such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository or by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any nominee of such Depository to a successor Depository or any nominee of such successor.

 

The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities will be summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. We anticipate that the following provisions will generally apply to depository arrangements.

 

Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depository for such Global Security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the individual debt securities represented by such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with the Depository (“Participants”). Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such debt securities or by us if such debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable Depository or its nominee (with respect to interests of Participants) and records of Participants (with respect to interests of persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to own, pledge or transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.

 

So long as the Depository for a Global Security or its nominee is the registered owner of such Global Security, the Depository or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have any of the individual debt securities of the series represented by such Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such debt securities of such series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of such debt securities under the applicable indenture.

 

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Payments of principal of and any premium and any interest on individual debt securities represented by a Global Security registered in the name of a Depository or its nominee will be made to the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security representing such debt securities. None of Chiquita, the trustee, any paying agent or the security registrar for such debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Security for such debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

We expect that the Depository for a series of debt securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in respect of a permanent Global Security representing any of such debt securities, immediately will credit Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global Security for such debt securities as shown on the records of such Depository or its nominee. We also expect that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security held through such Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Such payments will be the responsibility of such Participants.

 

If a Depository for a series of debt securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue individual debt securities of such series in exchange for the Global Security representing such series of debt securities. In addition, we may, at any time and in our sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities, determine not to have any debt securities of such series represented by one or more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue individual debt securities of such series in exchange for the Global Security or Securities representing such series of debt securities. Individual debt securities of such series so issued will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by us, of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

 

Restrictive Covenants

 

We will describe any restrictive covenants, including restrictions on any subsidiary, for any series of debt securities in a prospectus supplement.

 

Defeasance

 

At our option, either (a) we will be Discharged (as defined below) from any and all obligations in respect of any series of debt securities or (b) we will cease to be under any obligation to comply with the restriction on our ability to merge, consolidate or sell assets set forth in the applicable indenture, the requirement that we maintain our existence or certain other restrictions, in either case if we deposit irrevocably with the trustee, in trust, specifically for the benefit of the holders of such series, money or U.S. Government Obligations (as defined below) which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient (in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants in the case of U.S. Government Obligations or a combination of money and U.S. Government Obligations) to pay all the principal of (including any sinking fund payments or analogous obligations), and interest on, the debt securities of such series on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such series of debt securities. To exercise such option, we are required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax in the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and discharge had not occurred.

 

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The term “Discharged” is defined to mean that we are deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the debt securities of such series and to have satisfied all the obligations under the indenture relating to the debt securities of such series, except for

 

    the rights of holders of the debt securities of such series to receive, from the trust fund described above, payment of the principal of and the interest on the debt securities of such series when such payments are due,

 

    our obligations with respect to the debt securities of such series with respect to temporary debt securities, registration, transfer, exchange, replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost and stolen certificates, maintenance of a paying office and holding money in trust, and

 

    the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee under the applicable indenture.

 

The term “U.S. Government Obligations” is defined to 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 of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and also includes a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company, as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

Modification of the Indentures

 

Modifications and amendments of each indenture may be made by us and the trustee without the consent of the holders of the debt securities or with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities affected by such modification or amendment; provided however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

    change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security;

 

    reduce the principal amount of or interest on, or any premium payable upon redemption of, any debt security;

 

    change certain other terms related to waiver of past defaults or covenants (such as covenants and provisions of the indenture that may not be amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected); or

 

    reduce the percentage of the principal amount of the outstanding debt security of any series, the consent of whose holders is required to modify or amend the applicable indenture or waive compliance with, or consent to certain defaults under, the provisions of such indenture.

 

Our board of directors does not have the power to waive any of the covenants of each indenture, including those relating to consolidation, merger or sale of assets.

 

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

 

The following will be “Events of Default” with respect to any particular series of the debt securities:

 

    default in any payment of interest on such series when due, continued for 30 days;

 

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    default in any payment of principal and premium, if any, of, or sinking fund installment on, such series when due;

 

    default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of ours applicable to such series continued for 90 days after written notice to us by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such series;

 

    certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

    any other event of default we may provide for that series.

 

No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities.

 

The trustee will, within 90 days after the occurrence of any default with respect to any series of the debt securities, give to the holders thereof notice of such default known to the trustee, unless such default has been cured or waived (the term default for this purpose means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default); provided that, except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of such series of debt securities or in the payment of any sinking fund installments, the trustee will be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities of that series.

 

We will be required to furnish to the trustee each year a statement as to the fulfillment by us of our obligations under the applicable indenture.

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, in respect of such series, waive certain defaults and may 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, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the applicable indenture. The trustee has the right to decline to follow any such direction if the trustee in good faith determines that the proceeding so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders of debt securities of such series not joining in any such direction or would involve the trustee in personal liability. Each indenture provides that in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of the debt securities, the trustee will be required to exercise any of its rights and powers under such indenture with the degree of care and skill such as a prudent man would exercise in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the direction of any of the holders of such debt securities unless such holders have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the trustee in complying with such direction.

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such series may declare such series due and payable.

 

Each indenture provides that no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under such indenture (except actions for payment of overdue principal or interest or premium, if any) unless the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such series have requested the trustee to institute such action and have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity, and the trustee has not instituted such action within 60 days of such request.

 

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Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets

 

We may not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or sell our assets substantially as an entirety, unless:

 

    the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or the corporation which acquires our assets is organized in the United States and expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the debt securities, if any, issued under the applicable indenture and the performance of every covenant of such indenture to be performed by us; and

 

    immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default, has happened and is continuing.

 

Upon any such consolidation, merger or sale, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation, or into which we are merged or to which such sale is made, will succeed to, and be substituted for, us under such indenture.

 

Other than the covenants described above, or as set forth in any accompanying prospectus supplement, the indentures and the debt securities do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or a highly leveraged transaction involving us.

 

Governing Law

 

New York Law will govern the indentures and the debt securities, without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

 

Concerning the Trustee

 

We and the trustee may from time to time engage in normal and customary banking transactions.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The following description of certain terms of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our third restated certificate of incorporation, (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), our by-laws and the applicable provisions of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act. Our Certificate of Incorporation and our by-laws have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. For more information on how you can obtain our Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws, see “Where You Can Find More Information.” We urge you to read our Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws in their entirety.

 

General

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that we are authorized to issue 170 million shares of capital stock, consisting of 20 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 150 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of March 1, 2005, we had outstanding 40,976,685 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock.

 

Although our board of directors has no intention at the present time of doing so, it could issue common stock or a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of such securities, impede the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt. Our board of directors will make any determination to issue such shares based on its judgment as to the best interests of us and our shareholders. Our board of directors, in so acting, could issue securities having terms that could discourage an acquisition attempt through which an acquirer may be able to change the composition of our board of directors, including a tender offer or other transaction that some, or a majority, of our shareholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which our shareholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then-current market price of the stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

The following description of certain terms of the preferred stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our Certificate of Incorporation, the applicable provisions of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act and the certificate of amendment that relates to the particular series of preferred stock, which will be filed with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the related preferred stock. Certain terms of any series of preferred stock offered by any prospectus supplement will be set forth in the certificate of amendment, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to such series of preferred stock. If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any such series may differ from the terms set forth below. If there are differences between the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will control. For more information on how you can obtain our Certificate of Incorporation and any applicable certificate of amendment, see “Where You Can Find More Information.” We urge you to read our Certificate of Incorporation and any applicable certificate of amendment in its entirety.

 

General. The board of directors is authorized to establish and designate series of preferred stock and to fix the number of shares and the relative rights, preferences and limitations of the respective series of preferred stock. The terms of a particular series of preferred stock may differ, among other things, in:

 

    the designation and number of shares comprising such series;

 

    the dividends, if any, which shall be payable on the shares of such series and any preferences and other terms and conditions applicable thereto;

 

    any rights and preferences of the holders of the shares of such series upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our affairs, or upon any distribution of our assets;

 

    the full, limited or special voting rights, if any, of the shares of such series, in addition to voting rights provided by law, and the terms and conditions applicable thereto;

 

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    any provision with respect to the conversion of the shares of such series into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or classes, or of any other series of any class, of our capital stock and/or any other property or cash, and the terms and conditions applicable to any such conversion or exchange;

 

    any provision with respect to the redemption, purchase, or retirement of such shares and the terms and conditions applicable thereto;

 

    any provision with respect to the issuance of additional shares of such series or of any other class or series on a parity with or superior to the shares of such series; and

 

    any other relative, participating, optional or special powers, preferences, or rights of, and any other qualifications, limitations, or restrictions with respect to, the shares of such series as the board of directors may deem advisable.

 

Unless otherwise specifically set forth in the certificate of amendment, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred stock, all shares of preferred stock will be of equal rank, preference and priority as to dividends; when the stated dividends are not paid in full, the shares of all series of the preferred stock will share ratably in any payment thereof; and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if assets are insufficient to pay in full all preferred stock, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders ratably.

 

Since we are a holding company, our right, and hence the right of our creditors and shareholders, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, except to the extent that our claims as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

 

Dividend Rights. Except as may be set forth in the certificate of amendment, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, the holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, but only when and as declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, cash dividends at the rates and on the dates set forth in the certificate of amendment, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, and no more, payable quarterly. Such rate may be fixed or variable. Each such dividend will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on our stock books on such record dates as will be fixed by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. Dividends payable on the preferred stock for any period less than a full quarter will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a 360 day year and for a period of a full calendar quarter, will be computed on the basis of a 360 day year consisting of twelve 30 day months. Except as may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, such dividends will be payable from, and will be cumulative from, the date of original issue of each share, so that, if in any quarterly dividend period (being the period between such dividend payment dates), dividends at the rate or rates as set forth in the certificate of amendment, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to such series of preferred stock have not been declared and paid or set apart for payment on all outstanding shares of preferred stock for such quarterly dividend period and all preceding quarterly dividend periods from and after the first day from which dividends are cumulative, then the aggregate deficiency will be declared and fully paid or set apart for payment, but without interest, before any dividends are declared or paid or set apart for payment on our common stock by us. After payment in full of all dividend arrearages on the preferred stock, dividends on our common stock may be declared and paid out of funds legally available for that purpose as our board of directors may determine.

 

Redemption. We will have such rights, if any, to redeem shares of preferred stock, and the holders of preferred stock will have such rights, if any, to cause us to redeem shares of preferred stock, as may be set forth in the certificate of amendment, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred stock.

 

Conversion or Exchange. The holders of preferred stock will have such rights, if any, to convert such shares into or to exchange such shares for, shares of any other class or classes, or of any other series of any class, of our

 

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capital stock and/or any other property or cash, as may be set forth in the certificate of amendment, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred stock. Any mandatory conversion feature will be summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock.

 

Voting Rights. All shares of preferred stock of any class or series will have the right to vote with the common stock as a single class on all matters upon which holders of common stock are entitled to vote and such voting rights as required by applicable law and as may be set forth in the certificate of amendment, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, but the number of votes per share of preferred stock of any class or series shall be as stated in the resolution or resolutions of the board of directors determining the relative rights, preferences and limitations of such class or series of preferred stock.

 

No holder of preferred stock shall have any preemptive, subscription, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights with respect to the preferred stock, or to any securities, rights or obligations convertible (directly or indirectly) into any class or series of stock whether now or hereafter.

 

Liquidation Rights. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of preferred stock will have such preferences and priorities, if any, with respect to distribution of our assets or the proceeds thereof as may be set forth in the certificate of amendment and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock.

 

Miscellaneous. The transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and registrar for the preferred stock issued in connection with this prospectus will be as set forth in the certificate of amendment and summarized in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in the certificate of amendment and summarized in the prospectus supplement, the holders of preferred stock, including any preferred stock issued in connection with this prospectus, will not have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any shares of any class or other securities of any type of ours. When issued, the preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable. The certificate of amendment setting forth the provisions of each series of preferred stock will become effective after the date of this prospectus but on or before issuance of the related series of preferred stock.

 

Common Stock

 

The following description of certain rights of our common stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our Certificate of Incorporation, our by-laws and the applicable provisions of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act.

 

Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the New Jersey Business Corporation Act or our Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, each holder of common stock has one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including elections of directors. The common stock does not have cumulative voting rights.

 

Generally, a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders by holders of shares entitled to vote on the proposal is required for shareholder action. However, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that the vote of at least two-thirds of the combined voting power of all outstanding shares eligible to vote in the election of directors is required to amend the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to limitations on liability and indemnification (Article Nine) in any manner adverse to those indemnified or to amend Article Eleven which imposes this vote requirement.

 

Dividends and Liquidation Rights. Except as otherwise provided by the New Jersey Business Corporation Act or our Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to all rights and preferences of holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock share ratably in all dividends and distributions, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors from funds available therefor, whether upon liquidation or dissolution or otherwise.

 

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Miscellaneous. The outstanding shares of common stock are, and any shares of common stock offered hereby upon issuance and payment therefor will be, fully paid and nonassessable. The common stock is not convertible into, or exchangeable for, any other class or series of our capital stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or purchase additional securities of Chiquita. Shares of common stock are not subject to calls or assessments. No personal liability will attach to holders under the New Jersey law.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CQB.”

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Securities Transfer Company (telephone: 800-368-3417).

 

Anti-Takeover Considerations

 

The New Jersey Business Corporation Act, our Certificate of Incorporation and our by-laws contain provisions which could serve to discourage or to make more difficult a change in control of us without the support of our board of directors or without meeting various other conditions.

 

Extraordinary Corporate Transactions

 

Under the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, the consummation of a merger or consolidation by a New Jersey corporation requires the approval of such corporation’s board of directors and, generally, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by each of the holders of shares of the corporation entitled to vote thereon and any class or series entitled to vote thereon as a class. Similarly, a sale of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets other than in the ordinary course of business, requires the approval of such corporation’s board of directors and the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by each of the holders of shares of the corporation entitled to vote thereon and any class or series entitled to vote thereon as a class.

 

State Takeover Legislation

 

Subject to numerous qualifications and exceptions, New Jersey law prohibits an interested shareholder of a corporation from effecting a business combination with the corporation for a period of five years following the interested stockholder’s stock acquisition date, unless the corporation’s board approved the combination prior to the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder. In addition, but not in limitation of the five-year restriction, if applicable, corporations covered by the New Jersey statute may not engage at any time in a business combination with any interested shareholder of that corporation unless the combination is approved by the board prior to the interested shareholder’s stock acquisition date, the combination receives the approval of two-thirds of the voting stock of the corporation not beneficially owned by the interested shareholder, or the combination meets minimum financial terms specified by the statute.

 

An “interested shareholder” is defined to include any beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any affiliate or associate of the corporation who within the prior five-year period has at any time owned 10% or more of the voting power. The term “business combination” is defined broadly to include, among other things:

 

    the merger or consolidation of the corporation with the interested shareholder or any corporation that after the merger or consolidation would be an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder,

 

    the sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition to an interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder having an aggregate market value of 10% or more of the corporation’s assets or outstanding stock, or

 

    the issuance or transfer to an interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder of stock of the corporation equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the stock of the corporation.

 

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The New Jersey statute generally applies to corporations that are organized under New Jersey law, have either their principal executive offices or significant business operations located in New Jersey, and have a class of stock registered or traded on a national securities exchange or registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A corporation may not opt out of the coverage of the statute; however, although we are incorporated in New Jersey and have securities listed on a national exchange, our business activities in New Jersey may not be significant enough for this statute to apply to us.

 

Rights of Dissenting Shareholders

 

New Jersey law does not afford dissenting or appraisal rights in a merger transaction to (i) holders of shares that are either listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by not less than 1,000 shareholders or (ii) holders that receive cash or securities which, upon consummation of the merger, will be listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by not less than 1,000 shareholders. In addition, New Jersey law denies appraisal rights to shareholders of the surviving corporation in a merger if the surviving corporation’s shareholders weren’t required to approve the merger.

 

Shareholder Action

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that any action required or permitted to be taken by our shareholders must be effected at an annual or special meeting of shareholders and may not be effected in lieu thereof by any consent in writing by less than all of the shareholders.

 

Meetings of Shareholders

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that special meetings of the shareholders may be called at any time only by (i) the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total number of directors then in office or (ii) our president or chief executive officer.

 

Cumulative Voting

 

New Jersey law permits shareholders to cumulate their votes and either cast them for one candidate or distribute them among two or more candidates in the election of directors only if expressly authorized in a corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting.

 

Removal of Directors

 

New Jersey law provides that, except in the case of a classified board of directors or where cumulative voting applies, a director, or the entire board of directors, of a corporation may be removed, with or, unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that any or all of the directors may be removed, only for cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

Vacancies

 

New Jersey law provides that vacancies and newly created directorships may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, unless the Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

 

We may issue stock purchase contracts representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified or varying number of shares of our preferred stock or common stock at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the stock purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specified or varying number of shares of preferred stock or common stock. The price per share and the number of shares may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are entered into or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be entered into separately or as a part of a stock purchase unit that consists of (a) a stock purchase contract; and/or (b) debt securities or debt obligations of third parties (including United States treasury securities, other stock purchase contracts or common stock), that would secure the holders’ obligations to purchase or to sell, as the case may be, preferred stock or common stock under the stock purchase contract. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or require the holders of the stock purchase units to make periodic payments to us. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the contracts in a specified manner.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contract or stock purchase unit and will contain a summary of certain United States federal income tax consequences applicable to the stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions,

 

    directly to purchasers,

 

    through agents,

 

    to or through underwriters or dealers, or

 

    through a combination of these methods.

 

In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

A prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

    the terms of the offering;

 

    the name or names of any underwriters or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;

 

    the public offering price or purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be received by us from the sale;

 

    any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

    any initial public offering price;

 

    any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

 

    any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

    any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.

 

The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:

 

    at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed,

 

    at market prices prevailing at the time of sale,

 

    at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or

 

    at negotiated prices.

 

General

 

Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profits they receive on the resale of the offered securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any underwriters, agents or dealers and describe their commissions, fees or discounts in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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Underwriters and Agents

 

If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the offered securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These sales will be made at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of the sale. We may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. The underwriters in any particular offering will be mentioned in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we will enter into with the underwriters at the time of the sale to them. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless the applicable prospectus supplement says otherwise. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

We may designate agents to sell the offered securities. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. We may also sell the offered securities to one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These firms will remarket the offered securities upon purchasing them in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the offered securities. A prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and will describe the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation.

 

In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which we receive our outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.

 

Dealers

 

We may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the time of resale.

 

Direct Sales

 

We may choose to sell the offered securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

 

Institutional Purchasers

 

We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.

 

We will enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasers that we approve. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.

 

Indemnification; Other Relationships

 

We may have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

 

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Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

 

There is currently no market for any of the offered securities, other than our common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. If the offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intended to make a market in the offered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities. We have no current plans for listing of the debt securities or preferred stock on any securities exchange or on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. automated quotation system; any such listing with respect to any particular debt securities, preferred stock, stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Any underwriter may engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Rule 104 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.

 

Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

 

Fees and Commissions

 

In compliance with the guidelines of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any NASD member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement; however, it is anticipated that the maximum commission or discount to be received in any particular offering of securities will be significantly less than this amount.

 

If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by NASD members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such NASD members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with NASD Conduct Rule 2710(h).

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Robert W. Olson, Esq., our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Mr. Olson presently holds, both directly and through employee benefit plans, shares and restricted shares of Chiquita common stock, and warrants and employee stock options to purchase shares of Chiquita common stock. If legal matters in connection with offerings made by this prospectus are passed on by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2003 (reorganized company) and 2002 (reorganized company) and for the year ended December 31, 2003 (reorganized company), nine months ended December 31, 2002 (reorganized company), three months ended March 31, 2002 (predecessor company), and the year ended December 31, 2001 (predecessor company), incorporated by reference in this prospectus, have been audited by Ernst & Young, independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report dated February 12, 2004.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses (all of which will be borne by the registrant) incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions (if any). All of the amounts shown are estimates, except the SEC registration fee.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 41,195

Rating agency fees

     138,000

Trustee fees and expenses

     5,000

Printing and distributing

     75,000

Legal fees and expenses

     200,000

Accounting fees and expenses

     200,000

Miscellaneous

     5,805
    

Total

   $ 665,000
    

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

The New Jersey Business Corporation Act provides that a New Jersey corporation has the power to indemnify a director or officer against his or her expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving the director or officer by reason of his or her being or having been such a director or officer, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, if such a director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and with respect to any criminal proceeding, such director or officer had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

The indemnification and advancement of expenses shall not exclude any other rights, including the right to be indemnified against liabilities and expenses incurred in proceedings by or in the right of the corporation, to which a director or officer may be entitled under a certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of shareholders, or otherwise; provided that no indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of a director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his or her acts or omissions (a) were in breach of his or her duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (b) were not in good faith or involved a knowing violation of law, or (c) resulted in receipt by the director or officer of an improper personal benefit.

 

Article Nine of CBII’s Certificate of Incorporation provides directors and officers with the right to indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent not prohibited by the New Jersey Business Corporation Act. CBII’s directors and officers are indemnified generally against expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with any proceedings, including proceedings by or on behalf of CBII, relating to their service to or at the request of the CBII. However, no indemnification may be made if a final adjudication establishes that a person’s acts or omissions (a) breached the person’s duty of loyalty to CBII or its shareholders, (b) were not in good faith or involved a knowing violation of the law, or (c) resulted in receipt by the person of an improper personal benefit. Article Nine of the Certificate of Incorporation also limits the liability of CBII’s directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted by the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, to CBII or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of any duty, except in the situations set forth in (a) through (c) in the paragraph above.

 

In addition, the registrant has obtained liability insurance coverage for its directors and officers, which insures against liabilities that directors and officers may incur while acting in such capacities. These policies contain certain exclusions.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

See the Exhibit Index which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions of the registrant’s articles of incorporation or by-laws or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Cincinnati, State of Ohio on March 7, 2005.

 

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:

 

/S/    FERNANDO AGUIRRE


Name:   Fernando Aguirre
Title:   Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Fernando Aguirre and Robert W. Olson, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all (1) amendments (including post-effective amendments) and additions to this Registration Statement and (2) Registration Statements, and any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), if any, relating to the offering as contemplated by Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or the substitute or substitutes of either of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in their respective capacities on March 7, 2005.

 

Signature


  

Title


 

Date


/s/    FERNANDO AGUIRRE        


Fernando Aguirre

  

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

  March 7, 2005

/s/    JOHN W. BRAUKMAN III        


John W. Braukman III

  

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

  March 7, 2005

/s/    WILLIAM A. TSACALIS        


William A. Tsacalis

  

Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

  March 7, 2005

/s/    MORTEN ARNTZEN        


Morten Arntzen

  

Director

  March 7, 2005

/s/    JEFFREY D. BENJAMIN        


Jeffrey D. Benjamin

  

Director

  March 7, 2005

Robert W. Fisher

  

Director

   

/s/    RODERICK M. HILLS        


Roderick M. Hills

  

Director

  March 7, 2005

Durk I. Jager

  

Director

   

/s/    JAIME SERRA        


Jaime Serra

  

Director

  March 7, 2005

/s/    STEVEN P. STANBROOK        


Steven P. Stanbrook

  

Director

  March 7, 2005

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Documents


  

Note


1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report of the Registrant on a Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.     
2.1    Order Confirming Second Amended Plan of Reorganization of Registrant under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, with attached Second Amended Plan of Reorganization of Registrant under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (incorporated by reference to exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 12, 2002)     
4.1    Form of Indenture between the Registrant and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “Senior Indenture”).    *
4.2    Form of Senior Debt Securities (included in Exhibit 4.1).    *
4.3    Form of Indenture between the Registrant and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “Subordinated Indenture”).    *
4.4    Form of Subordinated Debt Securities (included in Exhibit 4.3).    *
4.5    Purchase Contract Agreement setting forth Stock Purchase Contracts and/or Stock Purchase Units to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report of the Registrant on a Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.     
4.6    Certificate of Amendment relating to preferred stock to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report of the Registrant on a Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.     
5.1    Opinion of Robert W. Olson, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Registrant.    *
12.1    Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.    *
23.1    Consent of Independent Auditors.    *
23.2    Consent of Robert W. Olson, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Registrant (included in Exhibit 5.1).    *
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on signature page).    *
25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of LaSalle Bank National Association, under the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture.    *

* Filed herewith

 

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EX-4.1 2 dex41.htm SENIOR INDENTURE Senior Indenture

Exhibit 4.1


CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

TO

 

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

INDENTURE

 

DATED AS OF                     , 2005

 

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 



Certain Sections of This Indenture

Relating to Sections 310 Through 318,

Inclusive, of The Trust Indenture Act of 1939:

 

TRUST INDENTURE

INDENTURE SECTION


   ACT SECTION

§  310(a)(1)

   609

(a)(2)

   609

(a)(3)

   Not Applicable

(a)(4)

   Not Applicable

(b)

   608, 610

§  311(a)

   613

(b)

   613

§  312(a)

   701
     702

(b)

   702

(c)

   702

§  313(a)

   703

(b)

   703

(c)

   703

(d)

   703

§  314(a)

   704

(a)(4)

   101
     1004

(b)

   Not Applicable

(c)(1)

   102

(c)(2)

   102

(c)(3)

   Not Applicable

(d)

   Not Applicable

(e)

   102

§  315(a)

   601

(b)

   602

(c)

   601

(d)

   601

(e)

   514

§  316(a)

   101

(a)(1)(A)

   502, 512

(a)(1)(B)

   513

(a)(2)

   Not Applicable

(b)

   508

(c)

   104

§  317(a)(l)

   503

(a)(2)

   504

(b)

   1003

§  318(a)

   107

 

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

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          Page

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

SECTION 101.

   DEFINITIONS.    1

SECTION 102.

   COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.    7

SECTION 103.

   FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE.    8

SECTION 104.

   ACTS OF HOLDERS; RECORD DATES.    8

SECTION 105.

   NOTICES, ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND COMPANY.    10

SECTION 106.

   NOTICE TO HOLDERS; WAIVER.    11

SECTION 107.

   CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.    11

SECTION 108.

   EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.    11

SECTION 109.

   SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.    11

SECTION 110.

   SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.    11

SECTION 111.

   BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.    12

SECTION 112.

   GOVERNING LAW.    12

SECTION 113.

   LEGAL HOLIDAYS.    12

SECTION 114.

   LANGUAGE OF NOTICES, ETC.    12
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201.

   FORMS GENERALLY.    12

SECTION 202.

   FORM OF LEGEND FOR GLOBAL SECURITIES.    13

SECTION 203.

   FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION.    13

SECTION 204.

   SECURITIES IN GLOBAL FORM.    13
ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301.

   AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES.    14

SECTION 302.

   DENOMINATIONS.    18

SECTION 303.

   EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.    18

SECTION 304.

   TEMPORARY SECURITIES.    19

SECTION 305.

   REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.    20

SECTION 306.

   MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES.    21

SECTION 307.

   PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED.    22

SECTION 308.

   PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.    23

SECTION 309.

   CANCELLATION.    23

SECTION 310.

   COMPUTATION OF INTEREST.    23

SECTION 311.

   CUSIP NUMBERS.    24

 

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ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401.

   SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.    24

SECTION 402.

   APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.    25
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES

SECTION 501.

   EVENTS OF DEFAULT.    25

SECTION 502.

   ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; RESCISSION AND ANNULMENT.    26

SECTION 503.

   COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.    27

SECTION 504.

   TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.    28

SECTION 505.

   TRUSTEE MAY ENFORCE CLAIMS WITHOUT POSSESSION OF SECURITIES.    29

SECTION 506.

   APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED.    29

SECTION 507.

   LIMITATION ON SUITS.    29

SECTION 508.

   UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.    30

SECTION 509.

   RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.    30

SECTION 510.

   RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.    30

SECTION 511.

   DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.    30

SECTION 512.

   CONTROL BY HOLDERS.    31

SECTION 513.

   WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.    31

SECTION 514.

   UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.    31

SECTION 515.

   WAIVER OF USURY, STAY OR EXTENSION LAWS.    31
ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601.

   CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.    32

SECTION 602.

   NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.    32

SECTION 603.

   CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.    32

SECTION 604.

   NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.    33

SECTION 605.

   MAY HOLD SECURITIES.    33

SECTION 606.

   MONEY HELD IN TRUST.    34

SECTION 607.

   COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.    34

SECTION 608.

   CONFLICTING INTERESTS.    34

SECTION 609.

   CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.    34

SECTION 610.

   RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.    35

SECTION 611.

   ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.    36

SECTION 612.

   MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.    37

 

iii


SECTION 613.

   PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.    37

SECTION 614.

   APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.    38
ARTICLE VII
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701.

   COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HOLDERS.    39

SECTION 702.

   PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS.    40

SECTION 703.

   REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.    40

SECTION 704.

   REPORTS BY COMPANY.    40
ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ASSIGNMENT,
CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801.

   COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS.    41

SECTION 802.

   SUCCESSOR SUBSTITUTED.    41
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901.

   SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS.    42

SECTION 902.

   SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS    43

SECTION 903.

   EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.    44

SECTION 904.

   EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.    45

SECTION 905.

   CONFORMITY WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.    45

SECTION 906.

   REFERENCE IN SECURITIES TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.    45
ARTICLE X
COVENANTS

SECTION 1001.

   PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.    45

SECTION 1002.

   MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.    45

SECTION 1003.

   MONEY FOR SECURITIES PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.    46

SECTION 1004.

   STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT.    47

SECTION 1005.

   EXISTENCE.    47

SECTION 1006.

   MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.    47

SECTION 1007.

   PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS.    47

SECTION 1008.

   WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.    48

SECTION 1009.

   ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.    48

 

iv


ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101.

   APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.    49

SECTION 1102.

   ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.    49

SECTION 1103.

   SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED.    49

SECTION 1104.

   NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.    50

SECTION 1105.

   DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.    51

SECTION 1106.

   SECURITIES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION DATE.    51

SECTION 1107.

   SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART.    51
ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1201.

   APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.    51

SECTION 1202.

   SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.    52

SECTION 1203.

   REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.    52
ARTICLE XIII
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1301.

   COMPANY’S OPTION TO EFFECT DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.    53

SECTION 1302.

   DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.    53

SECTION 1303.

   COVENANT DEFEASANCE.    53

SECTION 1304.

   CONDITIONS TO DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.    54

SECTION 1305.

   DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.    55

SECTION 1306.

   REINSTATEMENT.    56
ARTICLE XIV
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE XV
MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1501.

   PURPOSES FOR WHICH MEETINGS MAY BE CALLED.    56

SECTION 1502.

   CALL, NOTICE AND PLACE OF MEETINGS.    57

SECTION 1503.

   PERSONS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT MEETINGS.    57

SECTION 1504.

   QUORUM; ACTION.    57

SECTION 1505.

   DETERMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS; CONDUCT AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS.    58

SECTION 1506.

   COUNTING VOTES AND RECORDING ACTION OF MEETINGS.    59

 

v


INDENTURE, dated as of                     , 2005 between Chiquita Brands International, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey (herein called the “Company”), and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee, a national banking association (herein called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any persons (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of Series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 101. DEFINITIONS.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted as consistently applied by the Company at the date of such computation;

 

(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article”, a “Section” or an “Exhibit” refers to an Article, a Section or an Exhibit, as the case may be, of or to this Indenture; and


(5) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

 

Certain terms, used principally in Article Six and Article Thirteen, are defined in those Articles.

 

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

 

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board, or any officer duly authorized by that board.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument the United States Securities and Exchange Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

2


“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered which, as of the date hereof, is located at 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1811, Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attn: Corporate Trust Administration.

 

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

 

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301, which shall initially be The Depositary Trust Company.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 202 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

 

“Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 1304.

 

“Holder” means the Person in whose name the Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be

 

3


a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

“Investment Company Act” means the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(4).

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, its Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, which may be an employee of the Company.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

 

“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, EXCEPT:

 

(1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(2) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; PROVIDED that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

4


(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1302; and

 

(4) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 305 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action hereunder as of any date or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action, or upon any such determination actually as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company, which shall initially be the Trustee.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

5


“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places specified in accordance with Section 301 where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable.

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

“Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller or any assistant controller or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

 

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

 

“Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

6


“Subsidiary” means a corporation or limited liability company more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means the equity interest that ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, managers or trustees of an entity, or persons performing similar functions, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of equity interest has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

“United States Alien” means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

 

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

 

SECTION 102. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include,

 

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

7


(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 each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

SECTION 103. FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE.

 

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

SECTION 104. ACTS OF HOLDERS; RECORD DATES.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

8


The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

The principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, PROVIDED, that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; PROVIDED, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or

 

9


not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; PROVIDED, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; PROVIDED that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

SECTION 105. NOTICES, ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND COMPANY.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be via facsimile) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or

 

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention: General Counsel, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

10


SECTION 106. NOTICE TO HOLDERS; WAIVER.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Security affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to Holders of Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to Holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

SECTION 107. CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

 

This Indenture shall incorporate and be governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 108. EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

 

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

SECTION 109. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

 

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

SECTION 110. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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SECTION 111. BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 112. GOVERNING LAW.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

SECTION 113. LEGAL HOLIDAYS.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity.

 

SECTION 114. LANGUAGE OF NOTICES, ETC.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

ARTICLE II

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

SECTION 201. FORMS GENERALLY.

 

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the forms set forth in Exhibits A and A1 or in such other form (including temporary or permanent global form) as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities (or any such temporary global Security).

 

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The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

SECTION 202. FORM OF LEGEND FOR GLOBAL SECURITIES.

 

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

SECTION 203. FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION.

 

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 


AS TRUSTEE
By:  

 


    AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
Dated:

 

SECTION 204. SECURITIES IN GLOBAL FORM.

 

If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (10) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be

 

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specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

 

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global from together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 201 and 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of and any premium and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

 

ARTICLE III

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 301. AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Company Order, a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(1) the title and priority of payment of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3) whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in

 

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permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305;

 

(4) the Person to whom any interest on any Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;

 

(5) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable and whether the Stated Maturity may be extended and the method used to determine or extend those dates;

 

(6) the ability to issue additional Securities in the same series;

 

(7) the percentage of the principal amount at which the Securities of any series will be issued;

 

(8) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period, including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be extended;

 

(9) provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the Securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

(10) the terms, if any, upon which Holders may convert or exchange the Securities into or for the Company’s common stock, preferred stock or other securities or property;

 

(11) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, or the method by which such rate shall be determined, whether the rate may be reset, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue or the method used for determining those dates, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Securities on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(12) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, where any Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

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(13) the obligation or discretion, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(14) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(15) whether the amount of payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(16) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America;

 

(17) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

(18) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

 

(19) the guarantors of each series, if any, and the extent of the guarantees (including provisions relating to seniority, subordination, security and the release of the guarantors), if any;

 

(20) the terms and conditions, if any, securing the debt;

 

(21) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed, to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

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(22) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or both such Sections, any variation of such Sections, and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(23) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 202 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth, in the seventh paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered in the name or name of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

 

(24) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502;

 

(25) any addition to or change in the definitions set forth in Article I which apply to the Securities of the series, and any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series, including any restrictions on the Company’s ability to incur debt, redeem its stock, grant liens, merge or sell its assets;

 

(26) any restrictions on the subsidiaries of the Company;

 

(27) the basis for calculating interest if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

(28) the terms and conditions, if any, regarding any mandatory conversion or exchange of Securities;

 

(29) the period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices of which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may, pursuant to any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option;

 

(30) any restriction or condition on the transferability of Securities of a particular series;

 

(31) the appointment of any paying agents, authenticating agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents, if other than the Trustee;

 

(32) any changes necessary to issue the Securities of any particular series in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; and

 

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(33) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5)).

 

All Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

SECTION 302. DENOMINATIONS.

 

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, any Securities of such series, other than Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

SECTION 303. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or one of its Vice Presidents, attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At any time and from time to, time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the forms or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

(1) if the forms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(3) that such Securities when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the two preceding paragraphs, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraphs at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 304. TEMPORARY SECURITIES.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

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If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of that series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and like aggregate principal amount and tenor.

 

Until exchanged in full as hereinafter provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

SECTION 305. REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at an office or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with Section 1002 a register (being the combined register of the Security Registrar and all transfer agents designated pursuant to Section 1002 for the purpose of registration of transfer of Securities and sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and the registration of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or any transfer agent) be duly

 

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endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar or any transfer agent duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the mailing of notice of redemption of that series and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

Global Securities may not be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities, and no transfer of a Global Security, in whole or in part, may be registered in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for the Global Security or a nominee of the Depositary unless (i) the Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as Depositary unless the Company has approved a successor Depositary within 90 days or (ii) the Company determines that the Global Security will be so exchangeable or transferable.

 

SECTION 306. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

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Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

SECTION 307. PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED.

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit not later than 10:00 AM (New York time) the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed,

 

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such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

SECTION 308. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 305 and Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

SECTION 309. CANCELLATION.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as directed by a Company Order.

 

SECTION 310. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

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SECTION 311. CUSIP NUMBERS.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use such “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holder; 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 as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance maybe placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 401. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for, and any right to receive additional amounts, as provided in Section 1009), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(1) either

 

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

 

(i) have become due and payable, or

 

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds, money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered

 

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to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

SECTION 402. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE V

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or,

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise and (if so established as contemplated by Section 301 in respect of that series), in the case of technical or administrative difficulties only if such default persists for a period of five days; or

 

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(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

 

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder or

 

(5) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, of the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(6) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

 

SECTION 502. ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; RESCISSION AND ANNULMENT.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) with

 

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respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

 

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

 

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel;

 

and

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 503. COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.

 

The Company covenants that if

 

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

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(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

 

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances, of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem reasonably necessary to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

SECTION 504. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.

 

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

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SECTION 505. TRUSTEE MAY ENFORCE CLAIMS WITHOUT POSSESSION OF SECURITIES.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

SECTION 506. APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607; and

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities 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 any premium and interest, respectively.

 

SECTION 507. LIMITATION ON SUITS.

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

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(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

SECTION 508. UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 509. RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder; then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

SECTION 510. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

SECTION 511. DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

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SECTION 512. CONTROL BY HOLDERS.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, PROVIDED that

 

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and

 

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

SECTION 513. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

 

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 514. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; PROVIDED that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company.

 

SECTION 515. WAIVER OF USURY, STAY OR EXTENSION LAWS.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or

 

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advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

 

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

SECTION 602. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.

 

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 603. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

(1) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

 

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(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or Indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

(7) 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.

 

SECTION 604. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 605. MAY HOLD SECURITIES.

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

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SECTION 606. MONEY HELD IN TRUST.

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

 

SECTION 607. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

 

The Company agrees

 

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence or bad faith; and

 

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

SECTION 608. CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

 

If the Trustee has 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. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

SECTION 609. CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.

 

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

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SECTION 610. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

 

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

 

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, 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, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within

 

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one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona tide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 611. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.

 

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.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee

 

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of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

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 the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

SECTION 612. MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.

 

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, PROVIDED such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

SECTION 613. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, but only to the extent therein specified, regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor). For purposes of Section 311(b)(4) and (6) of such Act, the following terms shall mean:

 

(a) “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand; and

 

(b) “self-liquidating paper” means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company for the purpose of

 

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financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, PROVIDED the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Company arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.

 

SECTION 614. APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.

 

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall he a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, PROVIDED such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions

 

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of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

AS TRUSTEE
By:  

 


    AS AUTHENTICATING AGENT
By:  

 


    AUTHORIZED OFFICER

 

If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701. COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HOLDERS.

 

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(1) semi-annually, not later than 15 days after each Regular Record Date or in the case of any series of Securities on which semi-annual interest is not payable, not more

 

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than 15 days after such semi-annual dates specified by the Trustee, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of the Regular Record Date or such semi-annual date, as the case may be, and

 

(2) 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;

 

EXCLUDING from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

 

SECTION 702. PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS.

 

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 703. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.

 

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.

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.

 

SECTION 704. REPORTS BY COMPANY.

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act; PROVIDED that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the Commission.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ASSIGNMENT,

CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

SECTION 801. COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or assign, convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), unless:

 

(1) the Company is the surviving corporation or, in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership or trust, organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest (including all additional amounts, if any payable pursuant to Section 1009) on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

SECTION 802. SUCCESSOR SUBSTITUTED.

 

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such

 

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conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

 

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

 

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

(3) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that bearer securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on bearer securities, to permit bearer securities to be issued in exchange for registered Securities, to permit bearer securities to be issued in exchange for bearer securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form, PROVIDED that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

 

(4) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

 

(5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, PROVIDED that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

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(6) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us under this Indenture; or

 

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

 

(8) to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities; or

 

(9) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611; or

 

(10) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, PROVIDED that such action pursuant to this Clause (10) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

 

(11) to supplement any provisions of this Indenture necessary to defease and discharge the Securities of any series, PROVIDED that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities; or

 

(12) to comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any Securities are listed or traded; or

 

(13) to add, change or eliminate any provisions of this Indenture in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act, PROVIDED that the action does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holders of Securities.

 

SECTION 902. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 1009 (except as

 

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contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or

 

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or

 

(3) make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Security or decreases the conversion or exchange rate or increases the conversion price of any convertible or exchangeable Security, or

 

(4) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1009, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1008, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(9).

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Securities under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

SECTION 903. EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s owner’s rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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SECTION 904. EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

SECTION 905. CONFORMITY WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 906. REFERENCE IN SECURITIES TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

ARTICLE X

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1002. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.

 

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency in respect of any series of Securities or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders of Securities of that series may be made and notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agent to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands. The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such

 

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designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

SECTION 1003. MONEY FOR SECURITIES PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, not later than 10:00 AM (New York time) on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and any premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each

 

46


Place of Payment, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

SECTION 1004. STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT.

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

SECTION 1005. EXISTENCE.

 

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the ability of the Company to make payments hereunder.

 

SECTION 1006. MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.

 

The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the ability of the Company to make payments hereunder.

 

SECTION 1007. PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS.

 

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith.

 

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SECTION 1008. WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(22), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 1009. ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.

 

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series additional amounts as provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of additional amounts provided for in this Section to the extent that, in such context, additional amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express mention of the payment of additional amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding additional amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Payment Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the additional amounts required by this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

 

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ARTICLE XI

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1101. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

 

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article.

 

SECTION 1102. ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of a specified tenor are to be redeemed). In the case of any redemption of Securities (i) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (ii) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

SECTION 1103. SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED.

 

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by lot, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or of the principal amount of global securities of such series. If less than all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence. If so specified in the Securities of a series, partial redemptions must be in an amount not less than $1,000,000 principal amount of Securities.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

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The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 1104. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106 to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date,

 

(2) the Redemption Price,

 

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

 

(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case, and

 

(7) applicable CUSIP numbers, if any.

 

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.

 

50


SECTION 1105. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.

 

Not later than 10:00 AM (New York time) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

SECTION 1106. SECURITIES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION DATE.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interests on Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

SECTION 1107. SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART.

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

SECTION 1201. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

 

51


The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities 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 such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

 

SECTION 1202. SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.

 

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; PROVIDED that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

SECTION 1203. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.

 

Not less than 45 days prior (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 15 nor more than 45 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

52


ARTICLE XIII

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 1301. COMPANY’S OPTION TO EFFECT DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

 

The Company may at its option, at any time elect to have either Section 1302 or Section 1303 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Thirteen.

 

SECTION 1302. DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1301 applicable to this Section, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of any series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture insofar as the Securities of such series are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of the Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of such series when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article Thirteen. Subject to compliance with this Article Thirteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 1302 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1303.

 

SECTION 1303. COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1301 applicable to this Section, (i) the Company shall be released from its obligations with respect to the Securities of such Series under Section 801, Sections 1005 through 1009, inclusive, and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(22), 901(2) or 901(9) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (ii) the occurrence of an event specified in Sections 501(3) or (4) shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or clause whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or clause or by reason of any reference in any such Section or clause to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

53


SECTION 1304. CONDITIONS TO DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1302 or Section 1303 to the then Outstanding Securities of any series:

 

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Thirteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, (A) money in an amount, or (B) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York time) on the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of the Securities of such series. For this purpose, “Government Obligations” means, with respect to any series of Securities, securities that are (x) direct obligations of the government that issued the currency in which such series is denominated (or, if such series is denominated in euro, the direct obligations of any government that is a member of the European Monetary Union) for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any Government Obligation where the relevant government is the United States of America or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary 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 the custodian in respect of the such Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on such Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

 

54


(3) In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect the that Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that the Securities of such series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of such deposit.

 

(5) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as subsections 501(6) and (7) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(6) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 608 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company.

 

(7) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 1302 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1303 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

 

(9) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act, or such trust shall be qualified under such act or exempt from regulation thereunder.

 

SECTION 1305. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively, for purposes of this Section 1305, as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of the Securities of such series shall be held in trust and

 

55


applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities of such series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of the Securities of such series, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article Thirteen to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall delivered or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

 

SECTION 1306. REINSTATEMENT.

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 1302 or 1303 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Thirteen until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 1302 or 1303; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

ARTICLE XV

 

MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1501. PURPOSES FOR WHICH MEETINGS MAY BE CALLED.

 

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any or all series of Securities may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given to taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

56


SECTION 1502. CALL, NOTICE AND PLACE OF MEETINGS.

 

(1) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purposes specified in Section 1501, to be held at any such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(2) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

 

SECTION 1503. PERSONS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT MEETINGS.

 

Upon the calling of a meeting of Holders with respect to the Securities of a series all or part of which are represented by a Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to vote at such meeting, which record date shall be the close of business on the day the notice of the meeting of Holders is given in accordance with Section 1502. The Holders on such record date, and their designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to vote at such meeting of Holders. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders, a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Securities or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case of any meeting of Holders with respect to the Securities of a series all or part of which are represented by a Security, only Holders, or their designated proxies, of record on the record date established pursuant to Section 1503 hereof shall be entitled to vote at such meeting. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

SECTION 1504. QUORUM; ACTION.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not

 

57


less than 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution with respect to any consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that, except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or any adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

 

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

 

SECTION 1505. DETERMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS; CONDUCT AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS.

 

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such

 

58


other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as is shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

 

(2) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

(3) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

(4) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

SECTION 1506. COUNTING VOTES AND RECORDING ACTION OF MEETINGS.

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another

 

59


to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

60


This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Attest:

 

 


By:

 

 


LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By:

 

 


Name:

   

Title:

   

 

61


EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF FACE OF REGISTERED SECURITY

 

No.                        $

 

Chiquita Brands International, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of New Jersey (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                              , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                              Dollars on                              . The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or -more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the                     or                      (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

 

[IF THE SECURITY IS NOT TO BEAR INTEREST PRIOR TO MATURITY, INSERT] — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of             % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand.

 

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in                     , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by (i) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; or (ii) wire transfer in immediately available funds to the place and account designated in writing by the Person entitled to such payment as specified in the Security Register.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Exh. A-1


Unless the certificate of authentication hereof has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

 

By:

 

 


Name:

   

Title:

   

By:

 

 


Name:

   

Title:

   

 

 

Exh. A-2


EXHIBIT A1

 

FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of                              (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and                     , as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee[, the holders of Senior Debt] and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. [This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $                    .]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — (1) on                      in any year commencing with the year                      and ending with the year                      through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — (1) on or after                      , 20    ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — on or before                      %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning                      of the years indicated,

 

Year


 

Redemption Price


 

Redemption Year


  

Price


 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to             % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, (1) on                     in any year commencing with the year                     and ending with the year                      through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — on or after                    ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption

 

Exh. A1-1


otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning                     of the years indicated,

 

Year


 

Redemption Price For

Redemption Through Operation of

the Sinking Fund


 

Redemption Price For Redemption

Otherwise Than Through

Operation of the Sinking Fund


 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to                     % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to                     redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than                     % per annum.]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on . . . . . . . . . . in each year beginning with the year                      and ending with the year              of [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — not less than $             (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $             aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — , in the inverse order in which they become due].]

 

[IF THE SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OF ANY KIND, INSERT — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of-this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

 

Exh. A1-2


[IF THE SECURITY IS NOT AN ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY, INSERT — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

 

[IF THE Security IS AN ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY, INSERT — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to —INSERT FORMULA FOR DETERMINING THE AMOUNT. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of 50% in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt- of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

Exh. A1-3


As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $                      and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

 

Exh. A1-4


EXHIBIT B1

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN

BY BENEFICIAL OWNER OF INTEREST IN A

TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY

 

[ISSUER]

[Title of Securities]

(the “Securities”)

 

This is to certify that as of the date hereof, and except as set forth below, the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account (i) are owned by persons that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source (a “United States Person(s)”), (ii) are owned by United States Person(s) that are (A) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12 (c)(1)(v)) (“Financial Institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (B) United States Person(s) who acquired the Securities through the foreign branches of United States Financial Institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States Financial Institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (A) or (B), each such United States Financial Institution hereby agrees, on its own behalf or through its agent, to comply with the requirements of Section 165(j) (3) (A), (B) or, (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) are owned by United States or foreign Financial Institutions for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and in addition if the owner of the Securities is a United States or foreign, Financial Institution described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) this is to further certify that such Financial Institution has not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States Person(s) or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

 

If the Securities are of the category contemplated in Section 230.903(c)(3) of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) then this is also to certify that, except as set forth below (i) in the case of debt securities, the Securities are beneficially owned by (a) non-U.S. Person(s) or (b) U. S. Person(s) who purchased the Securities in transactions which did not require registration under the Act: or (ii) in the case of equity securities, the Securities are owned by (x) non-U.S. Person(s) and such persons are not acquiring the Securities for the account or benefit of U. S. Person(s) or (y) U. S. Person(s) who purchased the securities in a transaction which did not require registration under the Act. If this certification is being delivered in connection with the exercise of warrants pursuant to Section 230.902(m) of Regulation S under the Act, then this is further to certify that, except as set forth below, the Securities are being exercised by and on behalf of non-U.S. Person(s). As used in this paragraph the term “U.S. Person(s)” has the meaning given to it by Regulation S under the Act.

 

Exh. B1-1


As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia) and its “possessions” including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

We undertake to advise you promptly by tested telex on or prior to the date on which you intend to submit your certification relating to the Securities held by you for our account in accordance with your Operating Procedures if any applicable statement herein is not correct on such date, and in the absence of any such notification it may be assumed that this certification applies as of such date.

 

This certificate excepts and does not relate to [] of such interest in the above Securities in respect of which we are not able to certify and as to which we understand exchange and delivery of definitive Securities (or, if relevant, exercise of any rights or collection of any interest) cannot be made until we do so certify.

 

We understand that this certificate is required in connection with certain tax laws and, if applicable, certain securities laws of the United States. In connection therewith, if administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certification to any interested party in such proceedings.

 

1Dated:                     ,200    

 

NAME OF PERSON MAKING CERTIFICATION

By:

 

 


 


1 To be dated no earlier than the fifteenth day prior to the Certification Date.

 

Exh. B1-2

EX-4.3 3 dex43.htm SUBORDINATED INDENTURE Subordinated Indenture

Exhibit 4.3


 

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

TO

 

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

INDENTURE

 

DATED AS OF                     , 2005

 

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 



Certain Sections of This Indenture

Relating to Sections 310 Through 318,

Inclusive, of The Trust Indenture Act of 1939:

 

TRUST INDENTURE

INDENTURE SECTION


   ACT SECTION

§  310(a)(1)

   609

(a)(2)

   609

(a)(3)

   Not Applicable

(a)(4)

   Not Applicable

(b)

   608,610

§  311(a)

   613

(b)

   613

§  312(a)

   701
     702

(b)

   702

(c)

   702

§  313(a)

   703

(b)

   703

(c)

   703

(d)

   703

§  314(a)

   704

(a)(4)

   101
     1004

(b)

   Not Applicable

(c)(1)

   102

(c)(2)

   102

(c)(3)

   Not Applicable

(d)

   Not Applicable

(e)

   102

§  315(a)

   601

(b)

   602

(c)

   601

(d)

   601

(e)

   514

§  316(a)

   101

(a)(1)(A)

   502,512

(a)(1)(B)

   513

(a)(2)

   Not Applicable

(b)

   508

(c)

   104

§  317(a)(l)

   503

(a)(2)

   504

(b)

   1003

§  318(a)

   107

 

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

    

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

    
SECTION 101.    DEFINITIONS.    1
SECTION 102.    COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.    8
SECTION 103.    FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE.    9
SECTION 104.    ACTS OF HOLDERS; RECORD DATES.    9
SECTION 105.    NOTICES, ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND COMPANY.    11
SECTION 106.    NOTICE TO HOLDERS; WAIVER.    11
SECTION 107.    CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.    12
SECTION 108.    EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.    12
SECTION 109.    SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.    12
SECTION 110.    SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.    12
SECTION 111.    BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.    12
SECTION 112.    GOVERNING LAW.    12
SECTION 113.    LEGAL HOLIDAYS.    13
SECTION 114.    LANGUAGE OF NOTICES, ETC.    13
    

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

    
SECTION 201.    FORMS GENERALLY.    13
SECTION 202.    FORM OF LEGEND FOR GLOBAL SECURITIES.    13
SECTION 203.    FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION.    14
SECTION 204.    SECURITIES IN GLOBAL FORM.    14
    

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

    
SECTION 301.    AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES.    15
SECTION 302.    DENOMINATIONS.    19
SECTION 303.    EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.    19
SECTION 304.    TEMPORARY SECURITIES.    20
SECTION 305.    REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.    21
SECTION 306.    MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES.    22
SECTION 307.    PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED.    23
SECTION 308.    PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.    24
SECTION 309.    CANCELLATION.    24
SECTION 310.    COMPUTATION OF INTEREST.    24
SECTION 311.    CUSIP NUMBERS.    24

 

ii


ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 401.    SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.    25
SECTION 402.    APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.    26
    

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

    
SECTION 501.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT.    26
SECTION 502.    ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; RESCISSION AND ANNULMENT.    27
SECTION 503.    COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.    28
SECTION 504.    TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.    29
SECTION 505.    TRUSTEE MAY ENFORCE CLAIMS WITHOUT POSSESSION OF SECURITIES.    29
SECTION 506.    APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED.    30
SECTION 507.    LIMITATION ON SUITS.    30
SECTION 508.    UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.    31
SECTION 509.    RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.    31
SECTION 510.    RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.    31
SECTION 511.    DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.    31
SECTION 512.    CONTROL BY HOLDERS.    31
SECTION 513.    WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.    32
SECTION 514.    UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.    32
SECTION 515.    WAIVER OF USURY, STAY OR EXTENSION LAWS.    32
    

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

    
SECTION 601.    CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.    33
SECTION 602.    NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.    33
SECTION 603.    CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.    33
SECTION 604.    NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.    34
SECTION 605.    MAY HOLD SECURITIES.    34
SECTION 606.    MONEY HELD IN TRUST.    34
SECTION 607.    COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.    35
SECTION 608.    CONFLICTING INTERESTS.    35
SECTION 609.    CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.    35
SECTION 610.    RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.    36
SECTION 611.    ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.    37
SECTION 612.    MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.    38

 

iii


SECTION 613.    PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.    38
SECTION 614.    APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.    39
    

ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

    
SECTION 701.    COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HOLDERS.    40
SECTION 702.    PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS.    41
SECTION 703.    REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.    41
SECTION 704.    REPORTS BY COMPANY.    41
    

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ASSIGNMENT,

CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

    
SECTION 801.    COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS.    42
SECTION 802.    SUCCESSOR SUBSTITUTED.    42
    

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

    
SECTION 901.    SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS.    43
SECTION 902.    SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS    44
SECTION 903.    EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.    45
SECTION 904.    EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.    46
SECTION 905.    CONFORMITY WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.    46
SECTION 906.    REFERENCE IN SECURITIES TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.    46
    

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

    
SECTION 1001.    PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.    46
SECTION 1002.    MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.    46
SECTION 1003.    MONEY FOR SECURITIES PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.    47
SECTION 1004.    STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT.    48
SECTION 1005.    EXISTENCE.    48
SECTION 1006.    MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.    48
SECTION 1007.    PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS.    48
SECTION 1008.    WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.    49
SECTION 1009.    ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.    49

 

iv


    

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

    
SECTION 1101.    APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.    50
SECTION 1102.    ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.    50
SECTION 1103.    SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED.    50
SECTION 1104.    NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.    51
SECTION 1105.    DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.    52
SECTION 1106.    SECURITIES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION DATE.    52
SECTION 1107.    SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART.    52
    

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

    
SECTION 1201.    APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.    53
SECTION 1202.    SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.    53
SECTION 1203.    REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.    53
    

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

    
SECTION 1301.    COMPANY’S OPTION TO EFFECT DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.    54
SECTION 1302.    DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.    54
SECTION 1303.    COVENANT DEFEASANCE.    54
SECTION 1304.    CONDITIONS TO DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.    55
SECTION 1305.    DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.    57
SECTION 1306.    REINSTATEMENT.    57
    

ARTICLE XIV

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

    
SECTION 1401.    SECURITIES SUBORDINATE TO SENIOR DEBT.    58
SECTION 1402.    PAYMENT OVER OF PROCEEDS UPON DISSOLUTION, ETC.    58
SECTION 1403.    DEFAULT ON SENIOR DEBT.    59
SECTION 1404.    SUBROGATION TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR DEBT.    59
SECTION 1405.    PROVISIONS SOLELY TO DEFINE RELATIVE RIGHTS.    60
SECTION 1406.    TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION.    60
SECTION 1407.    TRUST MONIES NOT SUBORDINATED.    60
SECTION 1408.    NO WAIVER OF SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS.    61
SECTION 1409.    NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.    61
SECTION 1410.    RELIANCE ON JUDICIAL ORDER OR CERTIFICATE OF LIQUIDATING AGENT.    62
SECTION 1411.    TRUSTEE NOT FIDUCIARY FOR HOLDERS OF SENIOR DEBT.    62
SECTION 1412.    RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AS HOLDER OF SENIOR DEBT; PRESERVATION OF TRUSTEE’S RIGHTS.    62

 

v


SECTION 1413.    ARTICLE APPLICABLE TO PAYING AGENTS.    63
SECTION 1414.    CERTAIN CONVERSIONS OR EXCHANGES DEEMED PAYMENT.    63
SECTION 1415.    DEFEASANCE OF THIS ARTICLE FOURTEEN.    63
    

ARTICLE XV

MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

    
SECTION 1501.    PURPOSES FOR WHICH MEETINGS MAY BE CALLED.    63
SECTION 1502.    CALL, NOTICE AND PLACE OF MEETINGS.    64
SECTION 1503.    PERSONS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT MEETINGS.    64
SECTION 1504.    QUORUM; ACTION.    65
SECTION 1505.    DETERMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS; CONDUCT AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS.    66
SECTION 1506.    COUNTING VOTES AND RECORDING ACTION OF MEETINGS.    66

 

vi


INDENTURE, dated as of                     , 2005 between Chiquita Brands International, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey (herein called the “Company”), and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee, a national banking association (herein called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any persons (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of Series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 101. DEFINITIONS.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted as consistently applied by the Company at the date of such computation;

 

(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article”, a “Section” or an “Exhibit” refers to an Article, a Section or an Exhibit, as the case may be, of or to this Indenture; and


(5) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

 

Certain terms, used principally in Article Six and Article Thirteen, are defined in those Articles.

 

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

 

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board, or any officer duly authorized by that board.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument the United States Securities and Exchange Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

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“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, or any Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered which, as of the date hereof, is located at 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1811, Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attn: Corporate Trust Administration.

 

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

 

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

 

“Debt” means (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money and indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (ii) all of the Company’s capital lease obligations; (iii) any of our obligations as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles; (iv) all of the Company’s obligations for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or other similar instruments, or related reimbursement obligations; (v) all of the Company’s obligations in respect of interest rate swap, cap or other agreements, interest rate future or options contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements; (vi) all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; (vii) all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company); PROVIDED that, if recourse with respect to the obligation in limited to the asset, the amount of the debt will be limited to the lesser of fair market value of the asset or the amount of the indebtedness; and (viii) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except Trade Payables.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301, which shall initially be The Depositary Trust Company.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

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“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 202 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

 

“Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 1304.

 

“Holder” means the Person in whose name the Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

“Investment Company Act” means the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(4).

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, its Chief Financial Officer, or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, which may be an employee of the Company.

 

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“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

 

“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, EXCEPT:

 

(1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(2) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; PROVIDED that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1302; and

 

(4) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 305 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action hereunder as of any date or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be

 

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Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action, or upon any such determination actually as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company, which shall initially be the Trustee.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places specified in accordance with Section 301 where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable.

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

“Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller or any assistant controller or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

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“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

 

“Senior Debt” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due in connection with all of our Debt, whether outstanding at the date of execution of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, assumed or created; PROVIDED HOWEVER, that the following will not constitute Senior Indebtedness: (a) any indebtedness which expressly provides (i) that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the Securities, or (ii) that such indebtedness shall be subordinated to or pari passu with any other indebtedness of the Company, unless such indebtedness expressly provides that such indebtedness shall be senior in right of payment to the Securities; (b) any indebtedness of the Company in respect of the Securities; (c) any indebtedness or liability for compensation to employees, for Trade Payables; (d) any indebtedness of the Company to any subsidiary; and (e) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company.

 

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

 

“Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” means a corporation or limited liability company more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means the equity interest that ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, managers or trustees of an entity, or persons performing similar functions, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of equity interest has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

“Trade Payables” means any accounts payable or any other indebtedness or monetary obligation to trade creditors created, assumed or guaranteed by any Person or any of its subsidiaries arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the acquisition of goods and services.

 

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“Trust Indenture Act” means the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

“United States Alien” means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

 

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

 

SECTION 102. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include,

 

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

(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 each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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SECTION 103. FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE.

 

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

SECTION 104. ACTS OF HOLDERS; RECORD DATES.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

The principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, PROVIDED, that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; PROVIDED, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; PROVIDED, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

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With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; PROVIDED that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

SECTION 105. NOTICES, ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND COMPANY.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be via facsimile) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or

 

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention: General Counsel, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

SECTION 106. NOTICE TO HOLDERS; WAIVER.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Security affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to Holders of Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient

 

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notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to Holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

SECTION 107. CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

 

This Indenture shall incorporate and be governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 108. EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

 

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

SECTION 109. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

 

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

SECTION 110. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

SECTION 111. BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, the holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 112. GOVERNING LAW.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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SECTION 113. LEGAL HOLIDAYS.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity.

 

SECTION 114. LANGUAGE OF NOTICES, ETC.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

ARTICLE II

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

SECTION 201. FORMS GENERALLY.

 

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the forms set forth in Exhibits A and A1 or in such other form (including temporary or permanent global form) as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities (or any such temporary global Security).

 

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

SECTION 202. FORM OF LEGEND FOR GLOBAL SECURITIES.

 

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

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SECTION 203. FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION.

 

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

 


AS TRUSTEE
By:  

 


    AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
Dated:    

 

SECTION 204. SECURITIES IN GLOBAL FORM.

 

If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (10) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

 

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The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global from together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 201 and 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of and any premium and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

 

ARTICLE III

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 301. AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Company Order, a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(1) the title and priority of payment of the Securities, including whether such Securities are subordinated or senior subordinated securities, of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3) whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305;

 

(4) the Person to whom any interest on any Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more

 

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Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;

 

(5) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable and whether the Stated Maturity may be extended and the method used to determine or extend those dates;

 

(6) the ability to issue additional Securities in the same series;

 

(7) the percentage of the principal amount at which the Securities of any series will be issued;

 

(8) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period, including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be extended;

 

(9) provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the Securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

(10) the terms, if any, upon which Holders may convert or exchange the Securities into or for the Company’s common stock, preferred stock or other securities or property;

 

(11) the specific subordination provisions applicable to the Securities, if other than as set forth in Article 14 herein;

 

(12) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, or the method by which such rate shall be determined, whether the rate may be reset, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue or the method used for determining those dates, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Securities on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(13) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, where any Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

(14) the obligation or discretion, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

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(15) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(16) whether the amount of payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(17) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America;

 

(18) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

(19) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

 

(20) the guarantors of each series, if any, and the extent of the guarantees (including provisions relating to seniority, subordination, security and the release of the guarantors), if any;

 

(21) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed, to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

(22) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or both such Sections, any variation of such Sections, and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(23) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective

 

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Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 202 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth, in the seventh paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered in the name or name of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

 

(24) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502;

 

(25) any addition to or change in the definitions set forth in Article I which apply to the Securities of the series, any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series, including any restrictions on the Company’s ability to incur debt, redeem its stock, grant liens, merge or sell its assets;

 

(26) any restrictions on the subsidiaries of the Company;

 

(27) the basis for calculating interest if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

(28) the terms and conditions, if any, regarding any mandatory conversion or exchange of Securities;

 

(29) the period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices of which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may, pursuant to any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option;

 

(30) any restriction or condition on the transferability of Securities of a particular series;

 

(31) the appointment of any paying agents, authenticating agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents, if other than the Trustee;

 

(32) any changes necessary to issue the Securities of any particular series in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; and

 

(33) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5)).

 

All Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

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If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Debt as provided in Article Fourteen.

 

SECTION 302. DENOMINATIONS.

 

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, any Securities of such series, other than Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

SECTION 303. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At any time and from time to, time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the forms or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

(1) if the forms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(3) that such Securities when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company

 

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enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the two preceding paragraphs, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraphs at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 304. TEMPORARY SECURITIES.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of that series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and like aggregate principal amount and tenor.

 

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Until exchanged in full as hereinafter provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

SECTION 305. REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at an office or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with Section 1002 a register (being the combined register of the Security Registrar and all transfer agents designated pursuant to Section 1002 for the purpose of registration of transfer of Securities and sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and the registration of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or any transfer agent) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar or any transfer agent duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

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If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the mailing of notice of redemption of that series and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

Global Securities may not be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities, and no transfer of a Global Security, in whole or in part, may be registered in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for the Global Security or a nominee of the Depositary unless (i) the Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as Depositary unless the Company has approved a successor Depositary within 90 days or (ii) the Company determines that the Global Security will be so exchangeable or transferable.

 

SECTION 306. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

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The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

SECTION 307. PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED.

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit not later than 10:00 AM (New York time) on the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

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(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

SECTION 308. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 305 and Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

SECTION 309. CANCELLATION.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as directed by a Company Order.

 

SECTION 310. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 311. CUSIP NUMBERS.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use such “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holder; 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 as contained in

 

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any notice of a redemption and that reliance maybe placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 401. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for, and any right to receive additional amounts, as provided in Section 1009), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(1) either

 

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

 

(i) have become due and payable, or

 

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

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(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

SECTION 402. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE V

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be occasioned by the provisions of Article Fourteen or be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or,

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise and (if so established as contemplated by Section 301 in respect of that series), in the case of technical or administrative difficulties only if such default persists for a period of five days; or

 

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

 

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(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder or

 

(5) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, of the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(6) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

 

SECTION 502. ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; RESCISSION AND ANNULMENT.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

 

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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

 

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

 

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel;

 

and

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 503. COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.

 

The Company covenants that if

 

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

 

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates

 

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prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances, of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem reasonably necessary to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

SECTION 504. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.

 

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

SECTION 505. TRUSTEE MAY ENFORCE CLAIMS WITHOUT POSSESSION OF SECURITIES.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the

 

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production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

SECTION 506. APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607; and

 

SECOND: Subject to Article Fourteen, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities 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 any premium and interest, respectively.

 

SECTION 507. LIMITATION ON SUITS.

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb

 

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or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

SECTION 508. UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 509. RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder; then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

SECTION 510. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

SECTION 511. DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 512. CONTROL BY HOLDERS.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding

 

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for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, PROVIDED that

 

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and

 

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

SECTION 513. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

 

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 514. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; PROVIDED that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company.

 

SECTION 515. WAIVER OF USURY, STAY OR EXTENSION LAWS.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

 

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

SECTION 602. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.

 

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 603. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

(1) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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(5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or Indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

(7) 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.

 

SECTION 604. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 605. MAY HOLD SECURITIES.

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

SECTION 606. MONEY HELD IN TRUST.

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

 

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SECTION 607. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

 

The Company agrees

 

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence or bad faith; and

 

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

SECTION 608. CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

 

If the Trustee has 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. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

SECTION 609. CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.

 

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

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SECTION 610. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

 

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

 

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, 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, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered

 

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to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona tide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 611. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.

 

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.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided

 

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therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

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 the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

SECTION 612. MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.

 

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, PROVIDED such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

SECTION 613. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, but only to the extent therein specified, regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor). For purposes of Section 311(b)(4) and (6) of such Act, the following terms shall mean:

 

(a) “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand; and

 

(b) “self-liquidating paper” means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods,

 

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wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, PROVIDED the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Company arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.

 

SECTION 614. APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.

 

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall he a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, PROVIDED such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating

 

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Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

AS TRUSTEE
By:  

 


    AS AUTHENTICATING AGENT
By:  

 


    AUTHORIZED OFFICER

 

If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701. COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HOLDERS.

 

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(1) semi-annually, not later than 15 days after each Regular Record Date or in the case of any series of Securities on which semi-annual interest is not payable, not more than 15 days after such semi-annual dates specified by the Trustee, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of the Regular Record Date or such semi-annual date, as the case may be, and

 

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(2) 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;

 

EXCLUDING from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

 

SECTION 702. PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS.

 

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 703. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.

 

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.

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.

 

SECTION 704. REPORTS BY COMPANY.

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act; PROVIDED that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the Commission.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ASSIGNMENT,

CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

SECTION 801. COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or assign, convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), unless:

 

(1) the Company is the surviving corporation or, in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership or trust, organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest (including all additional amounts, if any payable pursuant to Section 1009) on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

SECTION 802. SUCCESSOR SUBSTITUTED.

 

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such

 

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successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

 

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

 

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

(3) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that bearer securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on bearer securities, to permit bearer securities to be issued in exchange for registered Securities, to permit bearer securities to be issued in exchange for bearer securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form, PROVIDED that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

 

(4) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

 

(5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, PROVIDED that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

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(6) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us under this Indenture; or

 

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

 

(8) to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities; or

 

(9) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611; or

 

(10) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, PROVIDED that such action pursuant to this Clause (10) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

 

(11) to supplement any provisions of this Indenture necessary to defease and discharge the Securities of any series, PROVIDED that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities; or

 

(12) to comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any Securities are listed or traded; or

 

(13) to add, change or eliminate any provisions of this Indenture in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act, PROVIDED that the action does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holders of Securities.

 

SECTION 902. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than 50% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 1009 (except as

 

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contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders, or

 

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or

 

(3) make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Security or decreases the conversion or exchange rate or increases the conversion price of any convertible or exchangeable Security, or

 

(4) change the subordination of any Subordinated Securities, or

 

(5) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1009, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1008, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(9).

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Securities under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

SECTION 903. EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s owner’s rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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SECTION 904. EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

SECTION 905. CONFORMITY WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 906. REFERENCE IN SECURITIES TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

ARTICLE X

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1002. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.

 

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency in respect of any series of Securities or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders of Securities of that series may be made and notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agent to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands. The

 

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Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes 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 obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

SECTION 1003. MONEY FOR SECURITIES PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, not later than 10:00 AM (New York time) on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and any premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all

 

47


liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

SECTION 1004. STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT.

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

SECTION 1005. EXISTENCE.

 

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the ability of the Company to make payments hereunder.

 

SECTION 1006. MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.

 

The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the ability of the Company to make payments hereunder.

 

SECTION 1007. PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS.

 

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary;

 

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PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith.

 

SECTION 1008. WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(22), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 1009. ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.

 

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series additional amounts as provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of additional amounts provided for in this Section to the extent that, in such context, additional amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express mention of the payment of additional amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding additional amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Payment Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the additional amounts required by this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

 

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ARTICLE XI

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1101. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

 

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article.

 

SECTION 1102. ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of a specified tenor are to be redeemed). In the case of any redemption of Securities (i) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (ii) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

SECTION 1103. SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED.

 

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by lot, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or of the principal amount of global securities of such series. If less than all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence. If so specified in the Securities of a series, partial redemptions must be in an amount not less than $1,000,000 principal amount of Securities.

 

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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 1104. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106 to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date,

 

(2) the Redemption Price,

 

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

 

(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case, and

 

(7) applicable CUSIP numbers, if any.

 

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

 

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Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.

 

SECTION 1105. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.

 

Not later than 10:00 AM (New York time) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

SECTION 1106. SECURITIES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION DATE.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interests on Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

SECTION 1107. SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART.

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

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ARTICLE XII

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

SECTION 1201. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities 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 such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

 

SECTION 1202. SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.

 

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; PROVIDED that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

SECTION 1203. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.

 

Not less than 45 days prior (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 15 nor more than 45 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 1301. COMPANY’S OPTION TO EFFECT DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

 

The Company may at its option, at any time elect to have either Section 1302 or Section 1303 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Thirteen.

 

SECTION 1302. DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1301 applicable to this Section, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of any series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture insofar as the Securities of such series are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of the Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of such series when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article Thirteen. Subject to compliance with this Article Thirteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 1302 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1303.

 

SECTION 1303. COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1301 applicable to this Section, (i) the Company shall be released from its obligations with respect to the Securities of such Series under Section 801, Sections 1005 through 1009, inclusive, and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(22), 901(2) or 901(9) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (ii) the occurrence of an event specified in Sections 501(3), (4) or (5) shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or clause whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or clause or by reason of any reference in any such Section or clause to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

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SECTION 1304. CONDITIONS TO DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1302 or Section 1303 to the then Outstanding Securities of any series:

 

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Thirteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, (A) money in an amount, or (B) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York time) on the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of the Securities of such series. For this purpose, “Government Obligations” means, with respect to any series of Securities, securities that are (x) direct obligations of the government that issued the currency in which such series is denominated (or, if such series is denominated in euro, the direct obligations of any government that is a member of the European Monetary Union) for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any Government Obligation where the relevant government is the United States of America or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary 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 the custodian in respect of the such Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on such Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

 

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(3) In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect the that Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that the Securities of such series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of such deposit.

 

(5) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as subsections 501(6) and (7) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(6) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 608 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company.

 

(7) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 1302 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1303 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

 

(9) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act, or such trust shall be qualified under such act or exempt from regulation thereunder.

 

(10) At the time of such deposit, (A) no default in the payment of any principal of or premium or interest on any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) no event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have resulted in such Senior Debt becoming, and continuing to be, due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable (unless payment of such Senior Debt has been made or duly provided for), and (C) no other event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting (after notice or lapse of time or both) the holders of such Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of such holders) to declare such Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable.

 

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SECTION 1305. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively, for purposes of this Section 1305, as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of the Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities of such series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of the Securities of such series, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article Thirteen to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall delivered or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

 

SECTION 1306. REINSTATEMENT.

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 1302 or 1303 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Thirteen until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 1302 or 1303; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1401. SECURITIES SUBORDINATE TO SENIOR DEBT.

 

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities of any series by the Holder’s acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article, subject to the provisions of Article Four and Article Thirteen and except as may otherwise be specified as contemplated by Section 301 and set forth in the Securities of a series, the indebtedness represented by the Securities of such series and the payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on each and all of the Securities of such series are hereby expressly made subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all amounts then due and payable in respect of all Senior Debt of the Company, to the extent and in the manner herein set forth (unless a different manner is set forth in the Securities of such series). No provision of this Article shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

 

Senior Debt shall not be deemed to have been paid in full unless the holders thereof shall have received cash, securities or other property equal to the amount of such Senior Debt then outstanding.

 

SECTION 1402. PAYMENT OVER OF PROCEEDS UPON DISSOLUTION, ETC.

 

In the event of:

 

(i) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding relating to the Company, its creditors or its property,

 

(ii) any proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or bankruptcy proceedings,

 

(iii) any assignment by the Company for the benefit of its creditors,

 

(iv) any other marshalling of the assets of the Company, all Senior Debt shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made by the Company on account of the Securities of any series. Any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan or reorganization or a readjustment, the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities of any series, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect to the Securities of any series shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Debt in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Debt shall have been paid in full. No present or future holder of any Senior Debt shall be prejudiced in the right to enforce subordination of the indebtedness constituting the Securities of any series by any act of failure to act on the part of the Company.

 

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SECTION 1403. DEFAULT ON SENIOR DEBT.

 

The Company may not pay the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on the Securities and may not otherwise purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Securities (collectively, “pay the Securities”) if (a) interest, premium or principal in respect of any Senior Debt of the Company is not paid when due or (b) any other default on such Senior Debt of the Company occurs and the maturity of such Senior Debt is accelerated in accordance with its terms unless, in either case, (i) the default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded or (ii) such Senior Debt has been paid in full; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company may pay the Securities without regard to the foregoing if the Company and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from a designated representative of such Senior Debt with respect to which either of the events set forth in clause (a) or (b) of this sentence has occurred and is continuing. During the continuance of any default (other than a default described in clause (a) or (b) of the preceding sentence) with respect to any Senior Debt of the Company pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated immediately without further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the Company may not pay the Securities for a period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing upon the receipt by the Trustee (with a copy to the Company) of written notice (a “Blockage Notice”) of such default from a designated representative of such Senior Debt specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period and ending 179 days thereafter (or earlier if such Payment Blockage Period is terminated (a) by written notice to the Trustee and the Company from the Person or Persons who gave such Blockage Notice, (b) by repayment in full of such Senior Debt or (c) because the default giving rise to such Blockage Notice (and no other default) is no longer continuing). Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately preceding sentence (but subject to the provisions contained in the first sentence of this Section), unless the holders of such Senior Debt or a designated representative of such holders shall have accelerated the maturity of such Senior Debt, the Company may resume payments on the Securities after the end of such Payment Blockage Period, including any missed payments. Not more than one Blockage Notice may be given in any consecutive 360-day period, irrespective of the number of defaults with respect to Senior Debt during such period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event may the total number of days during which any Payment Blockage Period or Periods is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any 360 consecutive day period. For purposes of this Section, no default or event of default that existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Senior Debt initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the basis of the commencement of a subsequent Payment Blockage Period by a designated representative of such Senior Debt, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

 

SECTION 1404. SUBROGATION TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR DEBT.

 

Upon the payment in full of all Senior Debt, the rights of the holders of Securities of any series shall be subrogated to all the rights of any holders of Senior Debt to receive any

 

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further payments or distributions applicable to the Senior Debt until the Securities of any series shall have been paid in full, and such payments or distributions received by the Holders of Securities of any series by reason of such subrogation, of cash, securities or other property which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of Senior Debt, shall, as between the Company and its creditors other than the holders of Senior Debt, on the one hand, and the Holders of Securities of any series, on the other, be deemed to be a payment by the Company on account of Senior Debt, and not on account of the Securities of any series.

 

SECTION 1405. PROVISIONS SOLELY TO DEFINE RELATIVE RIGHTS.

 

The provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of Securities of any series on the one hand and the holders of Senior Debt on the other hand. Nothing contained in this article or elsewhere in the Indenture or in the Securities of such series is intended to or shall

 

(a) impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of Securities of such series, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional (and which, subject to the rights under this Article of the holders of Senior Debt, is intended to rank equally with all other general obligations of the Company), to pay to the Holders of Securities of such series the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on, the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms; or

 

(b) affect the relative rights against the Company of the Holders of Securities of such series and creditors of the Company, as the case may be, other than the holders of Senior Debt; or

 

(c) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Securities of such series from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of Senior Debt to receive cash, property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder.

 

SECTION 1406. TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION.

 

Each Holder of Securities of any series by such Holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

SECTION 1407. TRUST MONIES NOT SUBORDINATED.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations held in trust under Article 6 by the Trustee for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Debt of the Company or subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article 14, and none of the Holders shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to the Company or any holder of Senior Debt of the Company or any other creditor of the Company.

 

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SECTION 1408. NO WAIVER OF SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS.

 

No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.

 

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Debt may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities of any series, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Securities of such series and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of Securities of such series to the holders of Senior Debt, do any one or more of the following:

 

(a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Debt, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding;

 

(b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt;

 

(c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Senior Debt; and

 

(d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

 

SECTION 1409. NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.

 

The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provision of the Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of any Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article, unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Debt or from any trustee therefor; and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 603, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of any series), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.

 

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Subject to the provisions of Section 603, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee therefor). In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payment of distribution pursuant to this Article, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

SECTION 1410. RELIANCE ON JUDICIAL ORDER OR CERTIFICATE OF LIQUIDATING AGENT.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 603, and the Holders of Securities of any series shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities of such series, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.

 

SECTION 1411. TRUSTEE NOT FIDUCIARY FOR HOLDERS OF SENIOR DEBT.

 

With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt with respect to its obligations and duties created hereunder and shall not be liable to any such holders or creditors if it shall in good faith pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities of any series or to the Company or to any other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.

 

SECTION 1412. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AS HOLDER OF SENIOR DEBT; PRESERVATION OF TRUSTEE’S RIGHTS.

 

The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Debt which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt, and nothing in the Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

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Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 607.

 

SECTION 1413. ARTICLE APPLICABLE TO PAYING AGENTS.

 

In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this Section shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if it or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.

 

SECTION 1414. CERTAIN CONVERSIONS OR EXCHANGES DEEMED PAYMENT.

 

For the purposes of this Article only, (a) the issuance and delivery of securities which are subordinate in right of payment to all then outstanding Senior Debt to substantially the same extent as the Securities are so subordinate (“Junior Securities”) (or cash paid in lieu of fractional shares) upon conversion or exchange of Securities of any series as contemplated by Section 301, shall not be deemed to constitute a payment or distribution on account of the principal of or premium or interest on Securities of such series or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities of such series and (b) the payment, issuance or delivery of cash, property or securities (other than Junior Securities and cash paid in lieu of fractional shares) upon conversion or exchange of Securities of any series shall be deemed to constitute payment on account of the principal of such Securities of such series. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in the Indenture or in the Securities of any series is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of Securities of such series the right, which is absolute and unconditional, of the Holder of any Securities of such series to convert or exchange such Securities of such series in accordance with the terms specified as contemplated by Section 301.

 

SECTION 1415. DEFEASANCE OF THIS ARTICLE FOURTEEN.

 

The subordination of the Securities provided by this Article Fourteen is expressly made subject to the provisions for defeasance or covenant defeasance in Article Thirteen hereof and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, upon the effectiveness of any such defeasance or covenant defeasance, the Securities than outstanding shall thereupon cease to be subordinated pursuant to this Article Fourteen.

 

ARTICLE XV

 

MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1501. PURPOSES FOR WHICH MEETINGS MAY BE CALLED.

 

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any or all series of Securities may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given to taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

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SECTION 1502. CALL, NOTICE AND PLACE OF MEETINGS.

 

(1) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purposes specified in Section 1501, to be held at any such time and at such place in · as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(2) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

 

SECTION 1503. PERSONS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT MEETINGS.

 

Upon the calling of a meeting of Holders with respect to the Securities of a series all or part of which are represented by a Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to vote at such meeting, which record date shall be the close of business on the day the notice of the meeting of Holders is given in accordance with Section 1502. The Holders on such record date, and their designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to vote at such meeting of Holders. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders, a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Securities or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case of any meeting of Holders with respect to the Securities of a series all or part of which are represented by a Security, only Holders, or their designated proxies, of record on the record date established pursuant to Section 1503 hereof shall be entitled to vote at such meeting. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

64


SECTION 1504. QUORUM; ACTION.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution with respect to any consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that, except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or any adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

 

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.}

 

65


SECTION 1505. DETERMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS; CONDUCT AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS.

 

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as is shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

 

(2) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

(3) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

(4) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

SECTION 1506. COUNTING VOTES AND RECORDING ACTION OF MEETINGS.

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all

 

66


votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

67


This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Attest:  

 


By:  

 


LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

 


Name:    
Title:    

 

68


EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF FACE OF REGISTERED SECURITY

 

No.                                 

  

                                                     $

 

Chiquita Brands International, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of New Jersey (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                              , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                              Dollars on                              . The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or -more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the                 or                  (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

 

[IF THE SECURITY IS NOT TO BEAR INTEREST PRIOR TO MATURITY, INSERT ]— The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of             % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand.

 

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in                 , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by (i) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; or (ii) wire transfer in immediately available funds to the place and account designated in writing by the Person entitled to such payment as specified in the Security Register.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Exh. A-1


Unless the certificate of authentication hereof has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

 

By:  

 


Name:    
Title:    
By:  

 


Name:    
Title:    

 

Exh. A-2


EXHIBIT A1

 

FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of                              (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and                     , as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee[, the holders of Senior Debt] and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. [This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $                    .]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — (1) on                              in any year commencing with the year                              and ending with the year                              through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — (1) on or after                              , 20    ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — on or before          %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning                              of the years indicated,

 

Year


 

Redemption Price


 

Redemption Year


  

Price


 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to         % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, (1) on                              in any year commencing with the year                      and ending with the year                          through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — on or after                             ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption

 

Exh. A1-1


otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning                              of the years indicated,

 

Year


 

Redemption Price For

Redemption Through Operation of

the Sinking Fund


 

Redemption Price For Redemption

Otherwise Than Through

Operation of the Sinking Fund


 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to         % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to                                      redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than         % per annum.]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on . . . . . . . . . . in each year beginning with the year                          and ending with the year                  of [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — not less than $                     (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $                     aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT —, in the inverse order in which they become due].]

 

[IF THE SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OF ANY KIND, INSERT — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of-this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

[The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions of the Indenture, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c)

 

Exh. A1-2


appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Debt, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such Holder upon said provisions.

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — The Securities shall [not be superior in right of payment to, and shall] rank pari passu with[,] — insert description of existing debt of the Company that is intended to rank on a parity with the Securities.]

 

[IF APPLICABLE, INSERT — The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

 

[IF THE SECURITY IS NOT AN ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY, INSERT — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

 

[IF THE Security IS AN ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY, INSERT — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to —INSERT FORMULA FOR DETERMINING THE AMOUNT. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of 50% in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with

 

Exh. A1-3


respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt- of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $                      and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

Exh. A1-4


EXHIBIT B1

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN

BY BENEFICIAL OWNER OF INTEREST IN A

TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY

 

[ISSUER]

[Title of Securities]

(the “Securities”)

 

This is to certify that as of the date hereof, and except as set forth below, the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account (i) are owned by persons that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source (a “United States Person(s)”), (ii) are owned by United States Person(s) that are (A) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12 (c)(1)(v)) (“Financial Institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (B) United States Person(s) who acquired the Securities through the foreign branches of United States Financial Institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States Financial Institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (A) or (B), each such United States Financial Institution hereby agrees, on its own behalf or through its agent, to comply with the requirements of Section 165(j) (3) (A), (B) or, (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) are owned by United States or foreign Financial Institutions for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and in addition if the owner of the Securities is a United States or foreign, Financial Institution described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) this is to further certify that such Financial Institution has not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States Person(s) or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

 

If the Securities are of the category contemplated in Section 230.903(c)(3) of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) then this is also to certify that, except as set forth below (i) in the case of debt securities, the Securities are beneficially owned by (a) non-U.S. Person(s) or (b) U. S. Person(s) who purchased the Securities in transactions which did not require registration under the Act: or (ii) in the case of equity securities, the Securities are owned by (x) non-U.S. Person(s) and such persons are not acquiring the Securities for the account or benefit of U. S. Person(s) or (y) U. S. Person(s) who purchased the securities in a transaction which did not require registration under the Act. If this certification is being delivered in connection with the exercise of warrants pursuant to Section 230.902(m) of Regulation S under the Act, then this is further to certify that, except as set forth below, the Securities are being exercised by and on behalf of non-U.S. Person(s). As used in this paragraph the term “U.S. Person(s)” has the meaning given to it by Regulation S under the Act.

 

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia) and its “possessions” including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

Exh. B1-1


We undertake to advise you promptly by tested telex on or prior to the date on which you intend to submit your certification relating to the Securities held by you for our account in accordance with your Operating Procedures if any applicable statement herein is not correct on such date, and in the absence of any such notification it may be assumed that this certification applies as of such date.

 

This certificate excepts and does not relate to [] of such interest in the above Securities in respect of which we are not able to certify and as to which we understand exchange and delivery of definitive Securities (or, if relevant, exercise of any rights or collection of any interest) cannot be made until we do so certify.

 

We understand that this certificate is required in connection with certain tax laws and, if applicable, certain securities laws of the United States. In connection therewith, if administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certification to any interested party in such proceedings.

 

*Dated:                             , 200    

 

NAME OF PERSON MAKING CERTIFICATION

By:  

 



* To be dated no earlier than the fifteenth day prior to the Certification Date.

 

Exh. B1-2

EX-5.1 4 dex51.htm OPINION OF ROBERT W. OLSON, ESQ., SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Opinion of Robert W. Olson, Esq., Senior Vice President

Exhibit 5.1

 

Robert W. Olson, Esq.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

250 East Fifth Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

 

March 7, 2005

 

Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

250 East Fifth Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

 

Re:    Chiquita Brands International, Inc.
     Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

I am Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Chiquita Brands International, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the “Company”), and as such have represented the Company in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-) (the “Registration Statement”), to be filed on the date hereof by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Act, of the following securities of the Company with an aggregate public offering price of up to $350 million or the equivalent thereof, based on the applicable exchange rate at the time of sale, in one or more foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies as shall be designated by the Company: (i) shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”), in one or more series; (iii) senior or subordinated unsecured debt securities, which may be in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”), which may be issued under the Senior Indenture (the “Senior Indenture”), proposed to be entered into by and between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, as trustee, and the Subordinated Indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture”), proposed to be entered into by and between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, as trustee, respectively, forms of each of which are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement (collectively, the “Indentures” and in its capacity under either Indenture, the “Trustee”); (iv) stock purchase contracts of the Company (the “Stock Purchase Contracts”) obligating the holders to purchase from or sell to the Company, and the Company to sell to or purchase from the holders, Common Stock or Preferred Stock at a future date or dates, which may be issued under one or more purchase contract agreements proposed to be entered into by the Company and a purchase contract agent or agents to be named (the “Stock Purchase Contract Agent” or the “Stock Purchase Contract Agents”); (v) stock purchase units of the Company (the “Stock Purchase Units”) each representing ownership of a Stock Purchase


Contract and/or any of the Debt Securities or debt obligations of third parties, including United States treasury securities, other Stock Purchase Contracts or Common Stock, securing a holder’s obligation to purchase or to sell, as the case may be, shares of Common Stock or shares of Preferred Stock under the Stock Purchase Contract; and (vi) such indeterminate amount of Debt Securities and number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock as may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock or Debt Securities, including such shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock as may be issued pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering (the “Indeterminate Securities”). The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Stock Purchase Units and the Indeterminate Securities are collectively referred to herein as the “Offered Securities.”

 

This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

 

In connection with this opinion, I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement relating to the Offered Securities and the exhibits thereto, (ii) the Third Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to the date hereof (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), (iii) the Restated By-laws of the Company, as currently in effect (the “Restated By-laws”), and (iv) such records of the Company, agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company, and such other documents, certificates and records, in each case either originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

 

In my examination, I have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as certified, conformed, photostatic, electronic or facsimile copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently established or verified, I have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others. In making my examination of executed documents or documents to be executed, I have assumed that the parties thereto, other than the Company, had or will have the power, corporate or otherwise, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents, and, as to parties other than the Company, the validity and binding effect on such parties. I have assumed that each of the Indentures, the Stock Purchase Contracts and the Stock Purchase Units will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and Stock Purchase Contract Agents, as the case may be, in substantially the form reviewed by me, and that any Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units that may be issued will be manually signed or countersigned, as the case may be, by duly authorized officers of the Trustee or the Stock Purchase Contract Agents, as the case may be. In addition, I have also assumed that the terms of the Offered Securities will have been established so as not to, and that the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by it of its obligations under, the Indentures, the Offered Securities and the Stock Purchase Contracts, will not, violate,

 

2


conflict with or constitute a default under (i) any agreement or instrument to which the Company is subject, (ii) any law, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, (iii) any judicial or regulatory order or decree of any governmental authority or (iv) any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with any governmental authority.

 

My opinions set forth below are limited to the New Jersey Business Corporation Act (the “NJBCA”) and those laws of the State of New York that, in my experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Registration Statement and to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”). I do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than Opined on Law or as to the effect of any such non-Opined on Law on the opinions herein stated. The Offered Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and to the other qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that:

 

1. With respect to any offering of Common Stock by the Company, including any Indeterminate Securities (the “Offered Common Stock”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Common Stock has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Common Stock is to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Common Stock has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the Offered Common Stock and related matters; (v) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Offered Common Stock have been duly established in conformity with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Restated By-laws (as then in effect) so as not to violate any applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Restated By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) certificates in the form required under the NJBCA representing the shares of Offered Common Stock are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered upon payment of the agreed upon consideration therefor, the shares of Offered Common Stock (including any Common Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock or Debt Securities), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Common Stock or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.01 per share of Common Stock.

 

3


2. With respect to the shares of any series of Preferred Stock, including any Indeterminate Securities (the “Offered Preferred Stock”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the shares of the Offered Preferred Stock has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Preferred Stock is to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the shares of the Offered Preferred Stock has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the shares of the Offered Preferred Stock and related matters, including the adoption of a Certificate of Amendment for the Offered Preferred Stock in accordance with the applicable provisions of the NJBCA (the “Certificate of Amendment”); (v) the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State or other appropriate office of the State of New Jersey has duly occurred; (vi) the terms of the Offered Preferred Stock and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Amendment relating to the Offered Preferred Stock, and the Restated By-laws of the Company (in each case, as then in effect) so as not to violate any applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Restated By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vii) certificates in the form required under the NJBCA representing the shares of the Offered Preferred Stock are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the shares of the Offered Preferred Stock (including any Preferred Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock or Debt Securities), when issued or sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.01 per share of Preferred Stock.

 

3. With respect to any series of Debt Securities (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act and the applicable Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Debt Securities are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors, including any

 

4


appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Debt Securities and related matters; (v) the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Restated By-laws (in each case, as then in effect) or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the Offered Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the Offered Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock or Debt Securities), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Indenture and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies, (d) the waivers of any usury defense contained in the Indentures which may be unenforceable, (e) requirements that a claim with respect to any Offered Debt Securities denominated in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law, and (f) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies.

 

4. With respect to any Stock Purchase Contracts (the “Offered Stock Purchase Contracts”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, an underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts and related matters; (v) the terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Restated By-laws (in each case, as then in effect) or result in a default under or breach of

 

5


any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agent; (vi) the Preferred Stock or Common Stock relating to such Offered Stock Purchase Contracts have been duly issued and paid for in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto; and (vii) the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts have been duly executed, delivered and countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and duly issued and sold in the applicable form filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts (including any Stock Purchase Contracts duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock or Debt Securities), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and the applicable purchase agreement or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity); and (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies.

 

5. With respect to any Stock Purchase Units (the “Offered Stock Purchase Units”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Units has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Stock Purchase Units are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, an underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Units and related matters; (v) the terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Units and the related Offered Stock Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement of which the Offered Stock Purchase Units are a component so as not to violate any applicable law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Restated By-laws (in each case, as then in effect) or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agent; (vi) the Preferred Stock or Common Stock relating to such Offered Stock Purchase Contracts have been duly issued and paid for in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto; and (vii) the Offered Stock Purchase Units have been duly executed, delivered and countersigned in accordance with the provisions

 

6


of the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and duly issued and sold in the applicable form filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement relating thereto, the Offered Stock Purchase Units (including any Stock Purchase Units duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock or Debt Securities), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and the applicable purchase agreement or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity); and (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies.

 

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. I also hereby consent to the use of my name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and I disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

 

        Very truly yours,    
        /s/ Robert W. Olson    

 

7

EX-12.1 5 dex121.htm COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges

Exhibit 12.1

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth Chiquita Brands International, Inc.’s ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for each of the last five years ended December 31, 2003 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.

 

     Reorganized Company

    Predecessor Company

 
    

Nine Months
Ended

September 30,


    Year Ended
December 31,


    Nine Months
Ended
December 31,


    Quarter Ended
March 31,


    Year Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2003

    2002

    2002

    2001

    2000

    1999

 
     (Dollars in Millions)  

Earnings:

                                                                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 30.3     $ 85.7     $ 95.9     $ (6.6 )   $ (189.7 )   $ (120.2 )   $ (109.1 )   $ (71.5 )

Fixed charges
(see below)

     42.7       44.8       59.1       41.7       11.6       124.6       129.7       129.0  

Income taxes

     2.2       5.3       5.3       4.8       1.0       5.8       6.8       8.3  

Income distributions of equity investees

     0.2       1.7       1.7       1.8       0.2       1.7       1.9       2.8  

Less: (income) loss from unconsolidated equity investees

     (9.1 )     (10.2 )     (12.2 )     (10.5 )     (0.9 )     1.7       2.9       (7.4 )

Less: capitalized interest

     —         —         —         —         —         —         (1.3 )     (3.6 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total earnings
(as defined)

   $ 66.3     $ 127.3     $ 149.8     $ 31.2     $ (177.8 )   $ 13.6     $ 30.9     $ 57.6  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Fixed Charges:

                                                                

Interest expense

   $ 29.9     $ 32.3     $ 42.4     $ 30.3     $ 7.6     $ 111.2     $ 113.8     $ 105.1  

Capitalized interest

     —         —         —         —         —         —         1.3       3.6  

Estimated interest component of rental expense

     12.8       12.5       16.7       11.4       4.0       13.4       14.6       20.3  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total fixed charges
(as defined)

   $ 42.7     $ 44.8     $ 59.1     $ 41.7     $ 11.6     $ 124.6     $ 129.7     $ 129.0  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Ratio of Earnings to
Fixed Charges

     1.55x       2.84x       2.53x       (a )     (a )     (a )     (a )     (a )
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 



(a) For these periods, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The amount of the coverage deficiency was $10.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2002, $189.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, $111.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, $98.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2000, and $71.4 million for the year ended December 31, 1999.
EX-23.1 6 dex231.htm CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Consent of Independent Auditors

Exhibit 23.1

 

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Registration Statement (S-3) and related Prospectus of Chiquita Brands International, Inc. and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated February 12, 2004, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedules of Chiquita Brands International, Inc. included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

 

/S/    ERNST & YOUNG, LLP

 

 

March 3, 2005

Cincinnati, Ohio

EX-25.1 7 dex251.htm FORM T-1 STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification

Exhibit 25.1

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM T-1

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 


 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)    x

 

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

36-0884183

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

135 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 


 

Willie J. Miller, Jr.

Group Senior Vice President

Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

Telephone: (312) 904-2018

135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 925

Chicago, Illinois 60603

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 


 

Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

New Jersey   04-1923360

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

250 East Fifth Street

Cincinnati, Ohio

  45202
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 


 

Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)


ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

  1. Comptroller of the Currency, Washington D.C.

 

  2. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.

 

  3. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Systems, Washington, D.C.

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Yes.

 

ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR AND GUARANTORS.

 

If the obligor or any guarantor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

 

None.

 

ITEMS 3 THROUGH 15, INCLUSIVE, ARE NOT APPLICABLE BY VIRTUE OF T-1 GENERAL INSTRUCTION B.

 

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.

 

List below all exhibits filed as part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

 

  1. A copy of the Articles of Association of LaSalle Bank National Association now in effect. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 filed with Form T-1 filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 29, 2000, in File No. 333-61691).

 

  2. A copy of the certificate of authority to commence business (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 29, 2000, in File No. 333-61691).

 

  3. A copy of the authorization to exercise corporate trust powers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 filed with Form T-1 filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 29, 2000, in File No. 333-61691).

 

  4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 filed with Form T-1 filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 29, 2000, in File No. 333-61691).

 

  5. Not applicable.

 

  6. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6 filed with Form T-1 filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 29, 2000, in File No. 333-61691).

 

  7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

  8. Not applicable.

 

  9. Not applicable.

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the trustee, LaSalle Bank National Association, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on the 4th day of March, 2005.

 

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/    John W. Porter


    John W. Porter
    Vice President


LaSalle Bank N.A.

                   

135 South LaSalle Street

                   

Chicago, IL 60603

                   
Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Commercial and
State-Chartered Savings Banks for December 31, 2004

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated,

report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter.

 

Schedule RC - Balance Sheet             
   
 
   Dollar Amounts in Thousands

ASSETS                       

1.      Cash and balances due from depository institutions
(from Schedule RC-A):

           RCFD          

a.      Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin (1)

           0081    1,654,813    l.a

b.      Interest-bearing balances (2)

           0071    21,671    1.b

2.      Securities:

                      

a.      Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A)

           1754    98,557    2.a

b.      Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)

           1773    21,275,790    2.b

3.      Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell

                      

a.      Federal funds sold in domestic offices

           B987    534,180    3.a

b.      Securities purchased under agreements to resell (3)

           B989    1,375,515    3.b

4.      Loans and lease financing receivables (from schedule RC-C)

                      

a.      Loans and leases held for sale

           5369    461,153    4.a

b.      Loans and leases, net of unearned income

  B528   35,922,737               

c.      LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

  3123   663,290              4.c

d.      Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)

           B529    35,259,447    4.d

5.      Trading assets (from Schedule RC-D)

           3545    455,947    5.

6.      Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

           2145    282,308    6.

7.      Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)

           2150    11,312    7.

8.      Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies (from Schedule RC-M)

           2130    0    8.

9.      Customers’ liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding

           2155    19,975    9.

10.    Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)

                      

a.      Goodwill

           3163    181,613    10.a

b.      Other Intangible assets

           0426    0    10.b

11.    Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)

           2160    2,102,546    11.

12.    Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)

           2170    63,734,827    12.

(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
(3) Includes all securities resale agreements in domestic and foreign offers, regardless of maturity.

 

 

4


LaSalle Bank N.A.

                   

135 South LaSalle Street

                   

Chicago, IL 60603

                   

 

Schedule RC - Continued

 

             Dollar Amounts in Thousands

LIABILITIES                       

13.    Deposits:

           RCON          

a.      In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC-E, part I)

           2200    30,303,455    13.a
    RCON                   

(1)    Noninterest-bearing (1)

  6631   7,265,226              13.a.1

(2)    Interest-bearing

  6636   23,038,229              13.a.2
             RCFN          

b.      In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)

           2200    7,437,278    13.b
    RCFN                   

(1)    Noninterest-bearing

  6631   0              13.b.1

(2)    Interest-bearing

  6636   7,437,278              13.b.2
             RCON          

14.    Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

                      

a.      Federal funds purchased in domestic offices (2)

           B993    2,192,955    14.a
             RCFD          

b.      Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (3)

           B995    7,102,085    14.b

15.    Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)

           3548    138,932    15

16.    Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases): From schedule RC-M

           3190    8,560,613    16

17.    Not applicable.

                      

18.    Bank’s liability on acceptances executed and outstanding

           2920    19,975    18.

19.    Subordinated notes and debentures (4)

           3200    540,000    19.

20.    Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)

           2930    1,955,957    20.

21.    Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)

           2948    58,251,250    21.

22.    Minority Interest in consolidated subsidiaries

           3000    66,678    22.
EQUITY CAPITAL                       
             RCFD          

23.    Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

           3838    500,000    23.

24.    Common stock

           3230    41,234    24.

25.    Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

           3839    2,010,375    25.

26.    a.     Retained Earnings

           3632    2,558,905    26.a

         b.     Accumulated Other Comprehensive income (5)

           B530    306,385    26.b

27.    Other Equity capital components (6)

           3284    0    27.

28.    Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)

           3210    5,416,899    28.

29.    Total liabilities, minority interest, and equity capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28)

           3300    63,734,827    29.
Memorandum                   
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.                   

1.       Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 2001

       RCFD
6724
   Number
N/A
  

 

M. 1

 

1  =   Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank

  

4  =   Directors’ examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified accounting firm. (may be be required by state chartering authority)

2  =   Independent audit of the bank’s parent holding company conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the bank separately)

  

5  =   Directors’ examination of the bank performed by other external auditors (may be required by state chartering authority)

  

6  =   Review of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

3  =   Attestation on bank managements assertion on the effectiveness of the with banks internal control over financial reporting by a certified public accounting firm. With generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm

  

7  =   Compilation of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

  

8  =   Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)

  

9  =   No external audit work

 


(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings deposits.
(2) Report overnight Federal Home Loan Bank advances in Schedule RC, item 16 “other borrowed money.”
(3) Includes all securities repurchased agreements in domestic and foreign offices, regardless of maturity.
(4) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.
(5) Includes net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available for sale securities, accumulated net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments, and minimum pension liability adjustments.
(6) Includes treasury stock and unearned Employee Stock Ownership plan shares.

 

5

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