-----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, GzBu4haCRRM4ZgAMxpbrCanZwjCMKfcwZnu6wZhdv7KLK5qc0Bfjndi+j+b+EE9U Z2VjCSP3FF2Bl9Mm5HFT5A== 0001193125-04-006230.txt : 20040120 0001193125-04-006230.hdr.sgml : 20040119 20040120171217 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-04-006230 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 10 FILED AS OF DATE: 20040120 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PLAINS RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000891451 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-PETROLEUM & PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (NO BULK STATIONS) [5172] IRS NUMBER: 760040974 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-112027-04 FILM NUMBER: 04533190 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 SMITH STREET CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 SMITH STREET CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PXP GULF COAST INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001226085 IRS NUMBER: 010770800 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-112027-02 FILM NUMBER: 04533188 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 DALLAS STREET 2: SUITE 700 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 BUSINESS PHONE: 7137396740 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PLAINS ILLINOIS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001054185 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-PETROLEUM & PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (NO BULK STATIONS) [5172] IRS NUMBER: 760487569 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-112027-05 FILM NUMBER: 04533191 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 SMITH ST STE 1500 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 BUSINESS PHONE: 7136541414 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 SMITH STREET STREET 2: SUITE 1500 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PMCT INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001054193 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-PETROLEUM & PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (NO BULK STATIONS) [5172] STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-112027-03 FILM NUMBER: 04533189 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 SMITH ST STE 1500 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 BUSINESS PHONE: 7136541414 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 SMITH STREET STREET 2: SUITE 1500 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ARGUELLO INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001099334 IRS NUMBER: 760608465 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-112027-06 FILM NUMBER: 04533192 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 DALLAS STREET, STE. 700 STREET 2: SUITE 700 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 BUSINESS PHONE: 7136541414 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 DALLAS STREET, STE. 700 STREET 2: 500 DALLAS STREET, STE. 700 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77022 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PLAINS E&P CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001180567 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-PETROLEUM & PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (NO BULK STATIONS) [5172] IRS NUMBER: 74305062 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-112027-01 FILM NUMBER: 04533186 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 DALLAS STREET CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 BUSINESS PHONE: 7137396700 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 500 DALLAS STREET CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PLAINS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000891456 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311] IRS NUMBER: 330430755 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-112027 FILM NUMBER: 04533187 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 700 MILAM STREET STREET 2: SUITE 3100 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 BUSINESS PHONE: 8322396000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 700 MILAM STREET STREET 2: SUITE 3100 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77002 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PLAINS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION CO L P DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20020619 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: STOCKER RESOURCES LP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980130 S-3 1 ds3.htm FORM S-3 Form S-3
Table of Contents

As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 20, 2004

Registration No. 333-          


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


Plains Exploration & Production Company

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


Delaware   33-0430755
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)   (IRS Employer Identification Number)

700 Milam, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

713-239-6000

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)


John F. Wombwell

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Plains Exploration & Production Company

700 Milam, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

713-239-6000

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)


COPY TO:

Michael E. Dillard, P.C.

Julien R. Smythe

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

1900 Pennzoil Place, South Tower

711 Louisiana Street

Houston, Texas 77002

Telephone: (713) 220-5800


Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Sale to the Public:  From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement, as determined by market conditions and other factors.

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) (2)    Proposed Aggregate
Maximum Offering
Price (3) (4)
   Amount of
Registration Fee (5)

Debt Securities (6)

             

Common Stock

             

Preferred Stock

             

Depositary Shares (7)

             

Securities Warrants

             

Stock Purchase Warrants

             

Stock Purchase Contracts (8)

             

Stock Purchase Units (9)

             

Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt Securities (10)

             

Total

   $ 300,000,000    $ 24,270


Table of Contents
(1) Certain information as to each class of securities to be registered is not specified pursuant to General Instruction II.D. to Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933.
(2) This registration statement also covers such indeterminate amount of securities as may be issued in exchange for, or upon conversion or exercise of, as the case may be, securities registered hereunder that provide for conversion, exercise or exchange. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. No separate consideration will be received for any securities registered hereunder that are issued in exchange for, or upon conversion of, as the case may be, securities registered hereunder.
(3) The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined from time to time in connection with, and at the time of, the issuance of the securities registered hereunder.
(4) In no event will the aggregate initial offering price of all securities issued from time to time pursuant to this registration statement exceed $300,000,000, or the equivalent thereof in foreign or composite currencies.
(5) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) at the statutory rate of $80.90 per $1,000,000 of securities registered.
(6) Subject to Note (4) above, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate principal amount of debt securities. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price may be increased by an amount such that the gross proceeds to be received by the registrant shall be equal to the above amount to be registered. Any offering of debt securities denominated other than in U.S. dollars will be treated as the equivalent of U.S. dollars based on the exchange rate applicable to the purchase of such debt securities at the time of initial offering.
(7) Subject to Note (4) above, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of depositary shares to be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement. If the registrant elects to offer to the public fractional interests in shares of preferred stock registered hereunder, depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests and such shares will be issued to the depositary under the deposit agreement.
(8) Subject to Note (4) above, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate amount and number of stock purchase contracts, representing obligations to purchase preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock or other securities.
(9) Subject to Note (4) above, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate amount and number of stock purchase units, representing ownership of stock purchase contracts and debt securities, preferred stock, warrants or debt obligations of third parties securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the stock purchase contracts.
(10) Arguello Inc., Plains E&P Company, Plains Illinois Inc., Plains Resources International Inc., PMCT Inc. and PXP Gulf Coast Inc. may guarantee the debt securities of Plains Exploration & Production Company. No separate consideration will be received for the guarantees of the debt securities. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, no separate fee is payable with respect to the guarantees of the debt securities being registered.

 

Additional Subsidiary Registrants

 

The following subsidiaries of Plains Exploration are co-registrants under this Registration Statement for the purpose of providing guarantees, if any, of payments on debt securities registered hereunder:

Exact Name of Registrant (1)


 

State or other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization


 

I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number


Arguello Inc.

  Delaware   76-0608465

Plains E&P Company

  Delaware   74-3050622

Plains Illinois Inc.

  Delaware   76-0487569

Plains Resources International Inc.

  Delaware   76-0040974

PMCT Inc.

  Delaware   76-0410281

PXP Gulf Coast Inc.

  Delaware   01-0770800
(1) The address for each co-registrant is 700 Milam, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002, and the telephone number at that address is (832) 239-6000.

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 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.

 



Table of Contents

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This registration statement consists of two prospectuses, covering the registration of:

 

  debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, securities warrants, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units and subsidiary guarantees of Plains Exploration & Production Company; and

 

  shares of common stock of Plains Exploration & Production Company that may be sold in one or more secondary offerings by certain of Plains Exploration & Production Company’s stockholders.


Table of Contents

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.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 20, 2004

PROSPECTUS

(Plains Exploration & Production Company LOGO)

 

$250,000,000

 

Plains Exploration and Production Company

 

DEBT SECURITIES

GUARANTEES OF DEBT SECURITIES

COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

DEPOSITARY SHARES

SECURITIES WARRANTS

STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS

STOCK PURCHASE UNITS


We may offer, from time to time, in one or more series:

  unsecured senior debt securities;
  unsecured subordinated debt securities;
  guarantees, if any, of our payment obligations under any debt securities, given by one or more of our subsidiaries named in this prospectus;
  shares of common stock;
  shares of preferred stock;
  depositary shares;
  securities warrants;
  stock purchase contracts; and/or
  stock purchase units.

The aggregate initial public offering price of all securities offered under this prospectus will not exceed $250,000,000. The securities:

  will be offered at prices and on terms to be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement;
  may be denominated in U.S. dollars or in other currencies or currency units;
  may be offered separately or together, or in separate series; and
  may be listed on a national securities exchange, if specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time securities are sold, we will provide one or more supplements to this prospectus that contain more specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities being offered. The supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering.

You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities. You should carefully consider information under the headings “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page i and “ Risk Factors” referred to on page 1 of this prospectus before you make an investment in our securities.

Plains Exploration & Production Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PXP.”


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


Notice to New Hampshire Residents

Neither the fact that a registration statement or an application for a license has been filed under RSA 421-B with the State of New Hampshire nor the fact that a security is effectively registered or a person is licensed in the State of New Hampshire constitutes a finding by the Secretary of State that any document filed under RSA 421-B is true, complete and not misleading. Neither any such fact nor the fact that an exemption or exception is available for a security or a transaction means that the Secretary of State has passed in any way upon the merits or qualifications of, or recommended or given approval to, any person, security or transaction. It is unlawful to make, or cause to be made, to any prospective purchaser, customer or client any representation inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph.


This prospectus is dated             , 2004.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE

About This Prospectus

   i

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

   ii

About Plains Exploration

   1

Risk Factors

   1

Use of Proceeds

   1

Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

   1

Description of Debt Securities

   2

Description of Plains Exploration Capital Stock

   14

Description of Depositary Shares of Plains Exploration.

   17

Description of Securities Warrants of Plains Exploration.

   19

Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units of Plains Exploration

   20

Plan of Distribution

   20

Legal Matters

   22

Experts

   22

Where You Can Find More Information

   23

 


 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, over time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $250,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide one or more prospectus supplements that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 23.

 

Unless the context requires otherwise or unless otherwise noted, all references in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement to “Plains Exploration” and to the “company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are to Plains Exploration & Production Company and its subsidiaries.

 

i


Table of Contents

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This prospectus includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about us that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “plans,” “likely,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “estimates,” “thinks,” “may,” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things, those matters discussed under the caption “Risk Factors,” as well as the following:

 

  uncertainties inherent in the development and production of and exploration for oil and gas and in estimating reserves;

 

  the consequences of any potential change in the relationship between us and Plains Resources Inc., or “Plains Resources”;

 

  unexpected difficulties in integrating operations as a result of any significant acquisitions;

 

  the consequences of our officers and employees providing services to both us and Plains Resources and not being required to spend any specific percentage or amount of time on our business;

 

  unexpected future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof);

 

  the impact of oil and gas price fluctuations;

 

  the effects of our indebtedness, which could adversely restrict our ability to operate, could make us vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions, could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt, and could have other adverse consequences;

 

  the effects of competition;

 

  the success of our risk management activities;

 

  the availability (or lack thereof) of acquisition or combination opportunities;

 

  the impact of current and future laws and governmental regulations;

 

  environmental liabilities that are not covered by an effective indemnity or insurance; and

 

  general economic, market or business conditions.

 

All forward-looking statements in this prospectus are made as of the date hereof, and you should not rely on these statements without also considering the risks and uncertainties associated with these statements and our business that are addressed in this prospectus. Moreover, although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that we will attain these expectations or that any deviations will not be material.

 

ii


Table of Contents

ABOUT PLAINS EXPLORATION

 

We are an independent oil and gas company engaged in exploring for, acquiring, exploiting, developing and producing oil and gas in the United States. We own oil and gas properties in ten states with principal operations in:

 

  The Los Angeles and San Joaquin Basins in California;

 

  The Santa Maria Basin offshore California;

 

  The Gulf Coast Basin onshore and offshore Louisiana; and

 

  The East Texas Basin in east Texas and north Louisiana.

 

Assets in our principal focus areas include mature properties with long-lived reserves and significant development opportunities as well as newer properties with development and exploration potential. We opportunistically hedge portions of our oil and gas production to manage our exposure to commodity price risk.

 

Plains Exploration’s executive offices are located at 700 Milam, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002, and the telephone number there is (832) 239-6000. Plains Exploration maintains a website on the Internet at http://www.plainsxp.com. Unless specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus, information that you may find on the website is not part of this prospectus.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and other documents we have filed with the SEC before investing in our securities. You should also consider similar information contained in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless indicated otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes. These purposes may include, but are not limited to:

 

  reduction or refinancing of debt or other corporate obligations;

 

  acquisitions;

 

  capital expenditures; and

 

  working capital.

 

Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of the offering and will be described in a prospectus supplement.

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

Our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges and proforma ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated are as follows:

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


  

Year ended December 31,


Proforma

2003 (1)


  

2003


  

Proforma

2002 (2)


  

2002


  

2001


  

2000


  

1999


  

1998


3.1

   3.6    2.8    2.9    5.2    3.1    2.1    —  (3)

(1) Reflects the effect of (i) Plains Exploration’s issuance of $75.0 million of 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2012 on May 30, 2003; and (ii) Plains Exploration’s acquisition of 3TEC Energy Corporation on June 4, 2003.

 

1


Table of Contents
(2) Reflects the effect of (i) Plains Resources Inc.’s contribution to Plains Exploration on July 3, 2002 of the capital stock of certain of Plains Resources’ subsidiary companies and all amounts payable to it by Plains Exploration and its subsidiary companies; (ii) Plains Exploration’s issuance of $200.0 million of 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2012 on July 3, 2002; (iii) the distribution by Plains Resources on December 18, 2002 of all the issued and outstanding shares of Plains Exploration common stock to the holders of Plains Resources common stock; (iv) Plains Exploration’s issuance of $75.0 million of 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2012 on May 30, 2003; and (v) Plains Exploration’s acquisition of 3TEC on June 4, 2003.
(3) In 1998 earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $29.2 million.

 

We have computed the ratio of earnings to fixed charges by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For this purpose, “earnings” consists of income before income taxes and the cumulative effect of accounting charges and fixed charges. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expense, capitalized interest and that portion of annual rental expense we have deemed to represent the interest factor.

 

As of the date of this prospectus and each of the periods presented, there were no outstanding shares of preferred stock.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

The Debt Securities will be either senior debt securities of Plains Exploration (“Senior Debt Securities”) or subordinated debt securities of Plains Exploration (“Subordinated Debt Securities”). The Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under one or more Indentures between Plains Exploration and a U.S. banking institution selected by Plains Exploration as “Trustee.” Senior Debt Securities will be issued under a “Senior Indenture” and Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under a “Subordinated Indenture.” Collectively, the Senior Indentures and the Subordinated Indentures are called “Indentures.” The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series.

 

We have summarized the material provisions of the Indentures below. We have filed the forms of each Indenture with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read such documents for provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below, we have included references to section numbers of the applicable Indentures so that you can easily locate these provisions. Whenever we refer in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement to particular sections or defined terms of an Indenture, such sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein or therein, as applicable. Capitalized terms used in this summary have the meanings specified in the Indentures.

 

GENERAL

 

The Indentures provide that Debt Securities in separate series may be issued thereunder from time to time without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. Plains Exploration may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the Debt Securities of any series. (Section 301) Plains Exploration will determine the terms and conditions of the Debt Securities, including the maturity, principal and interest, but those terms must be consistent with the applicable Indenture. The Debt Securities will be Plains Exploration’s unsecured obligations.

 

The Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of Plains Exploration’s Senior Debt (as defined) as described under “Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities” in this prospectus and in the prospectus supplement applicable to any Subordinated Debt Securities.

 

If the prospectus supplement so indicates, the Senior or Subordinated Debt Securities of Plains Exploration will be convertible into Plains Exploration’s common stock as described in the prospectus supplement.

 

Our payment obligations under any Debt Securities may, if specified in any prospectus supplement, be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by our subsidiaries: Arguello Inc., Plains E&P Company, Plains Illinois Inc.,

 

2


Table of Contents

Plains Resources International Inc., PMCT Inc. and PXP Gulf Coast Inc. If any series of Debt Securities is guaranteed by such subsidiary, the applicable prospectus supplement will identify each subsidiary guarantor and describe such subsidiary guarantee, including the circumstances in which it may be released. Any guarantee of Debt Securities by a subsidiary guarantor will be on a full and unconditional basis.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the price or prices at which the Debt Securities to be offered will be issued and will describe the following terms of such Debt Securities:

 

(1) the title of the Debt Securities;

 

(2) whether the Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities and, if Subordinated Debt Securities, the related subordination terms;

 

(3) any limit on the aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the Debt Securities;

 

(4) the Person to whom any interest on a Debt Security will be payable;

 

(5) the dates on which the principal of the Debt Securities will be payable;

 

(6) the rate or rates at which the Debt Securities will bear interest, or the method of determining the rate or rates and the dates from which interest shall accrue and the interest payment dates for the Debt Securities;

 

(7) the places where payments on the Debt Securities will be payable;

 

(8) whether the Debt Securities are convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities or other property of Plains Exploration and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which conversion will be effected, including the initial conversion price and any adjustments thereto, the conversion period and other conversion provisions;

 

(9) any provisions that provide for the redemption of the Debt Securities at our option;

 

(10) any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate Plains Exploration to repurchase or otherwise redeem the Debt Securities;

 

(11) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency, currencies or currency units for which the Debt Securities may be purchased and in which the principal, any premium and any interest may be payable;

 

(12) if the currency, currencies or currency units for which the Debt Securities may be purchased or in which the principal, any premium and any interest may be payable is at Plains Exploration’s election or the purchaser’s election, the manner in which the election may be made;

 

(13) if the amount of payments on the Debt Securities is determined by an index based on one or more currencies or currency units, or changes in the price of one or more securities or commodities, the manner in which the amounts may be determined;

 

(14) whether the Debt Securities are defeasible;

 

(15) the portion of the principal amount, if less than all, of the Debt Securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity of the Debt Securities;

 

(16) any addition to or change in the Events of Default;

 

(17) any addition to or change in the covenants in the Indenture applicable to any of the Debt Securities;

 

(18) whether the Debt Securities are issued together with other securities of Plains Exploration or an affiliated issuer as a unit; and

 

(19) any other terms of the Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture. (Section 301)

 

Debt Securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to Debt Securities sold at an original issue discount may be

 

3


Table of Contents

described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, special United States federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any Debt Securities that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

If Plains Exploration sells any of the Debt Securities for one or more foreign currencies or foreign currency units or if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any series of Debt Securities will be payable in one or more foreign currencies or foreign currency units, it will describe the restrictions, elections, federal income tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to the issue of Debt Securities and the currencies or currency units in the related prospectus supplement.

 

SUBORDINATION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 

The indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities will, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture with respect to each series of Subordinated Debt Securities, be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of Plains Exploration’s Senior Debt, including the Senior Debt Securities, and it may also be senior in right of payment to all of Plains Exploration’s Subordinated Debt. The prospectus supplement relating to any Subordinated Debt Securities will summarize the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture applicable to that series including:

 

  the applicability and effect of such provisions upon any payment or distribution of Plains Exploration’s assets to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshaling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings;

 

  the applicability and effect of such provisions in the event of specified defaults with respect to any Senior Debt, including the circumstances under which and the periods in which Plains Exploration will be prohibited from making payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities; and

 

  the definition of Senior Debt applicable to the Subordinated Debt Securities of that series and, if the series is issued on a senior subordinated basis, the definition of Subordinated Debt applicable to that series.

 

The prospectus supplement will also describe as of a recent date the approximate amount of Senior Debt to which the Subordinated Debt Securities of that series will be subordinated.

 

The failure to make any payment on any of the Subordinated Debt Securities by reason of the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture described in the prospectus supplement will not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities arising from any such failure to make payment.

 

The subordination provisions described above will not be applicable to payments in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities from a defeasance trust established in connection with any defeasance or covenant defeasance of the Subordinated Debt Securities as described under “Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indentures; Defeasance” in this prospectus.

 

FORM, EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER

 

The Debt Securities of each series will be issuable only in registered form, without coupons, and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Indenture, only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. (Section 302)

 

At the option of the Holder, subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, Debt Securities of each series will be exchangeable for other Debt Securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount. (Section 305)

 

4


Table of Contents

Subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to Plains Exploration) at the office of the Security Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by Plains Exploration for such purpose. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, but Plains Exploration may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Security Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. The Security Registrar and any other transfer agent initially designated by Plains Exploration for any Debt Securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 305) Plains Exploration may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that Plains Exploration will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of each series. (Section 1002).

 

If the Debt Securities of any series (or of any series and specified terms) are to be redeemed in part, Plains Exploration will not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security of that series (or of that series and specified terms, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Debt Security that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such Debt Security being redeemed in part. (Section 305).

 

GLOBAL SECURITIES

 

Some or all of the Debt Securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more Global Securities that will have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of the Debt Securities represented thereby. Each Global Security will be registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, will be deposited with such Depositary or nominee or its custodian and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer thereof referred to below and any such other matters as may be provided for pursuant to the applicable Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of the Indentures or any Debt Security described in this prospectus, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities registered, 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 such Global Security or any nominee of such Depositary unless:

 

(1) the Depositary has notified Plains Exploration that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as such as required by the applicable Indenture and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days;

 

(2) an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities represented by such Global Security has occurred and is continuing and the Security Registrar has received a written request from the Depositary to issue certificated Debt Securities; or

 

(3) other circumstances exist, in addition to or in lieu of those described above, as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

All Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof will be registered in such names as the Depositary may direct. (Section 204)

 

As long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered Holder of a Global Security, the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and Holder of such Global Security and the Debt Securities that it represents for all purposes under the Debt Securities and the applicable Indenture. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be

 

5


Table of Contents

entitled to have such Global Security or any Debt Securities that it represents registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Debt Securities in exchange therefor and will not be considered to be the owners or Holders of such Global Security or any Debt Securities that it represents for any purpose under the Debt Securities or the applicable Indenture. All payments on a Global Security will be made to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the Holder of the security. The laws of some jurisdictions require that some purchasers of Debt Securities take physical delivery of such Debt Securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to institutions that have accounts with the Depositary or its nominee (“participants”) and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. In connection with the issuance of any Global Security, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of Debt Securities represented by the Global Security to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to participants’ interests) or any such participant (with respect to interests of persons held by such participants on their behalf). Payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a Global Security may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the Depositary from time to time. None of Plains Exploration, the Trustees or the agents of Plains Exploration or the Trustees will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the Depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a Global Security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

 

PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a Debt Security on any Interest Payment Date will be made to the Person in whose name such Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. (Section 307)

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of and any premium and interest on the Debt Securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as Plains Exploration may designate for such purpose from time to time, except that at Plains Exploration’s option payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the Security Register. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the corporate trust office of the Trustee under the Senior Indentures in The City of New York will be designated as sole Paying Agent for payments with respect to Senior Debt Securities of each series, and the corporate trust office of the Trustee under the Subordinated Indentures in The City of New York will be designated as the sole Paying Agent for payment with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities of each series. Any other Paying Agents initially designated by Plains Exploration for the Debt Securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Plains Exploration may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that Plains Exploration will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of a particular series. (Section 1002)

 

All moneys paid by Plains Exploration to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Debt Security that remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to Plains Exploration and the Holder of such Debt Security thereafter may look only to Plains Exploration or a subsidiary guarantor, if any, for payment thereof. (Section 1003)

 

6


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS

 

Plains Exploration may not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, any Person (a “successor Person”), and may not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into it, unless:

 

(1) in a transaction in which Plains Exploration is not the successor Person, the successor Person (if any) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes Plains Exploration’s obligations on the Debt Securities and under the Indentures;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3) any other conditions with respect to any particular Debt Securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, are met. (Section 801)

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each of the following will constitute an Event of Default under the applicable Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series:

 

(1) Plains Exploration and any guarantor fail to pay any interest on any Debt Securities of that series when due, continued for 90 days, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

 

(2) Plains Exploration and any guarantor fail to pay principal of or any premium on any Debt Security of that series when due, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

 

(3) Plains Exploration and any guarantor fail to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any Debt Security of that series, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such deposit is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

 

(4) Plains Exploration fails to perform any of its other covenants in such Indenture (other than a covenant included in such Indenture solely for the benefit of a series other than that series), continued for 90 days after written notice has been given by the applicable Trustee, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series, as provided in such Indenture; and

 

(5) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting Plains Exploration. (Section 501)

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (5) above) with respect to the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall occur and be continuing, either the applicable Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series by notice as provided in the Indenture may declare the principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series (or, in the case of any Debt Security that is an Original Issue Discount Debt Security, such portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security as may be specified in the terms of such Debt Security) to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default described in clause (5) above with respect to the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall occur and be continuing, either the applicable Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities by notice as provided in the Indenture may declare the principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities (or, in the case of any Debt Security that is an Original Issue Discount Debt Security, such portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security as may be specified in the terms of such Debt Security) to be due and payable immediately. After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration

 

7


Table of Contents

if (1) Plains Exploration has paid or deposited with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of that series that have become due other than by declaration of acceleration, all overdue interest on such Debt Securities, interest on any overdue interest (if lawful), any amounts paid by the Trustee under the applicable Indenture and the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee and (2) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal (or other specified amount), have been cured or waived as provided in the applicable Indenture. (Section 502) For information as to waiver of defaults, see “Modification and Waiver” below.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Indentures relating to the duties of the Trustees in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, each Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders shall have offered to such Trustee reasonable indemnity. (Section 603) Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustees, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series will 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 Debt Securities of that series. (Section 512)

 

No Holder of a Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the applicable Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless:

 

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

 

(2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series have made written request, and such Holder or Holders have offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee; and

 

(3) the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer. (Section 507)

 

However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a Debt Security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such Debt Security on or after the applicable due date specified in such Debt Security or, if applicable, to convert such Debt Security. (Section 508)

 

Plains Exploration and the guarantors, if any, each will be required to furnish to each Trustee annually a written statement by certain of such entity’s officers as to whether or not Plains Exploration, to their knowledge, is in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the applicable Indenture and, if so, specifying all such known defaults. (Section 1004)

 

MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

 

Modifications and amendments of an Indenture may be made by Plains Exploration and the applicable Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series 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:

 

(1) change the Maturity of the principal of, or the Stated Maturity of any premium on, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Debt Security;

 

(2) reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, any Debt Security;

 

(3) change the method of computing the amount of principal or interest on any date;

 

(4) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Debt Security payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof;

 

8


Table of Contents

(5) change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any Debt Security;

 

(6) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or any conversion right with respect to any Debt Security;

 

(7) in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, modify the subordination or conversion provisions in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities;

 

(8) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture;

 

(9) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults; or

 

(10) modify such provisions with respect to modification and waiver. (Section 902)

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable Indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the applicable Indenture that cannot be amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security of such series affected. (Section 513)

 

The Indentures provide that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities have given or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under such Indenture as of any date:

 

(1) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that will be deemed to be Outstanding will 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; and

 

(2) Debt Securities owned by Plains Exploration or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities (or their respective Affiliates) will be disregarded; and

 

(3) the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner prescribed for such Debt Security, of the principal amount of such Debt Security (or, in the case of a Debt Security described in clause (1) or (2) above, of the amount described in such clause).

 

Certain Debt Securities, including those for whose payment or redemption money has been deposited or set aside in trust for the Holders and those that have been fully defeased pursuant to Section 1202, will not be deemed to be Outstanding. (Section 101)

 

Except in certain limited circumstances, Plains Exploration will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the applicable Indenture, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the Trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by Holders. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by Holders of a particular series, such action may be taken only by persons who are Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of that series on the record date. To be effective, such action must be taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Debt Securities within a specified period following the record date. For any particular record date, this period will be six months or such other period as may be specified by Plains Exploration may be (or the Trustee, if it set the record date), and may be shortened or lengthened (but not beyond six months) from time to time. (Section 104)

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF THE INDENTURES; DEFEASANCE

 

Satisfaction and Discharge. The Indentures will generally cease to be of any further effect with respect to a series of Debt Securities if Plains Exploration delivers all Debt Securities of that series, with limited exceptions,

 

9


Table of Contents

for cancellation to the applicable Trustee or all Debt Securities of that series not previously delivered for cancellation to the applicable Trustee have become due and payable or will become due and payable or called for redemption within one year, and Plains Exploration has deposited with the applicable Trustee as trust funds the entire amount sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all the Debt Securities, no default with respect to the Debt Securities has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit, and the deposit does not result in a breach or violation of, or default under, the applicable Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which Plains Exploration is a party.

 

If and to the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Plains Exploration may elect, at its option at any time, to have the provisions of Section 1202, relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, or defeasance of certain restrictive covenants applied to the Debt Securities of any series, or to any specified part of a series.

 

Defeasance. The Indentures provide that, upon Plains Exploration’s exercise of its option (if any) of defeasance and discharge applied to any Debt Securities, Plains Exploration and any guarantor will be discharged from all their respective obligations, and, if such Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt Securities, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination (but not to conversion, if applicable) and the provisions of any Indentures relating to guarantees, if any, will cease to be effective, with respect to such Debt Securities (except for certain obligations to exchange or register the transfer of Debt Securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold moneys for payment in trust) upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities of money or U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities or redemption dates, as applicable in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such Debt Securities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur only if, among other things:

 

(1) Plains Exploration has delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that it has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect that Holders of such Debt Securities 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 were not to occur;

 

(2) no Event of Default or event that with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, shall constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(3) such deposit, defeasance and discharge will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to which Plains Exploration is a party or by which such party is bound;

 

(4) in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, at the time of such deposit, no default in the payment of all or a portion of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of Plains Exploration’s Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing, no event of default shall have resulted in the acceleration of any of Plains Exploration’s Senior Debt and no other event of default with respect to any of Plains Exploration’s Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting after notice or the lapse of time, or both, the acceleration thereof; and

 

(5) Plains Exploration has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such deposit shall not cause the Trustee or the trust so created to be subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940. (Sections 1202 and 1203)

 

Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The Indentures provide that, upon the Issuer’s exercise of its option (if any) to have the provisions of the applicable Indenture relating to covenant defeasance applied to any Debt Securities, Plains Exploration may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants, including those that may be

 

10


Table of Contents

described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the occurrence of certain Events of Default, which are described above in clause (4) (with respect to such restrictive covenants) and clause (5) under “Events of Default” and any that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, will not be deemed to either be or result in an Event of Default and, if such Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt Securities, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination (but not to conversion, if applicable) will cease to be effective, in each case with respect to such Debt Securities. In order to exercise such option, Plains Exploration must deposit, in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities, money or U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities or redemption dates, as applicable in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such Debt Securities.

 

Such covenant defeasance may occur only if Plains Exploration has delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that in effect says that Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance of certain obligations 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 defeasance were not to occur, and the requirements set forth in clauses (2), (3), (4) and (5) above are satisfied. If Plains Exploration exercises this option with respect to any Debt Securities and such Debt Securities were declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations so deposited in trust would be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities at the time of their respective Stated Maturities but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities upon any acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. In such case, Plains Exploration would remain liable for such payments.

 

COVENANTS

 

The Senior Indenture contains the covenants summarized below, which will be applicable, unless waived or amended, so long as any of the Senior Debt Securities are outstanding, unless stated otherwise in the prospectus supplement.

 

Limitation on Mortgages. Plains Exploration will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to create, assume or incur

 

  any Mortgage on any stock or indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary to secure any Debt of Plains Exploration or any other person, other than the Senior Debt Securities; or

 

  any Mortgage on any Principal Property to secure any Debt of Plains Exploration or any other person, other than the Senior Debt Securities,

 

without making provision for all the outstanding Senior Debt Securities to be secured equally with the Debt.

 

Any Mortgage on stock or indebtedness of a corporation existing at the time a corporation becomes a Subsidiary or at the time stock or indebtedness of a Subsidiary is acquired, and, with specific exceptions, any extension, renewal or replacement of any Mortgage, will generally be excluded from this restriction.

 

The following permitted mortgages will be excluded from the restriction referred to in the preceding paragraph:

 

  any Mortgage on property owned or leased by a corporation existing at the time the corporation becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  any Mortgage on property existing at the time of its acquisition or to secure payment of any part of the purchase price thereof or any Debt incurred to finance the purchase thereof;

 

  any Mortgage on property to secure any part of the cost of development, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of the property, or Debt incurred to finance the cost;

 

11


Table of Contents
  any Mortgage securing Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to Plains Exploration or to another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

  any Mortgage existing on the date of the Senior Indenture;

 

  any Mortgage on Plains Exploration’s property or property of a Restricted Subsidiary in favor of the United States of America or any State or political subdivision thereof, or in favor of any other country or any political subdivision thereof, to secure payment pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or part of the purchase price or the cost of construction or improvement of the property subject to the Mortgage;

 

  any Mortgage on any property subsequently acquired by Plains Exploration or any Restricted Subsidiary, to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price of the property, or any Mortgage assumed by Plains Exploration or any Restricted Subsidiary on any property subsequently acquired by Plains Exploration or any Restricted Subsidiary which was existing at the time of the acquisition, provided that the amount of any Indebtedness secured by any Mortgage created or assumed does not exceed the cost to Plains Exploration or any Restricted Subsidiary of the property covered by the Mortgage; and

 

  any extension, renewal or replacement of any Mortgage referred to in the previous seven bullet points, provided that the principal amount of Debt secured thereby may not exceed the principal amount of Debt so secured at the time of the extension, renewal or replacement, and provided that the Mortgage must be limited to all or part of the property which secured the Mortgage so extended, renewed or replaced.

 

Notwithstanding the above, Plains Exploration may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume or incur any Mortgage on any Principal Property without equally securing the Senior Debt Securities if the aggregate amount of all Debt then outstanding secured by the Mortgage and all similar Mortgages does not exceed 10% of Plains Exploration’s total consolidated shareholders’ equity, including preferred stock, as shown on the audited consolidated balance sheet contained in its latest annual report to shareholders. However, Debt secured by Permitted Mortgages will not be included in the amount of the secured Debt. (Section 1006)

 

Sale and Leaseback Transactions. Plains Exploration will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any sale-leaseback transaction providing for the leasing by Plains Exploration or a Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property, except for temporary leases for a term of not more than three years, which has been or is to be sold or transferred by Plains Exploration or the Restricted Subsidiary to the person, unless:

 

  the sale-leaseback transaction occurs within the later of 180 days from the date of acquisition of the Principal Property or the date of the completion of construction or commencement of full operations on the Principal Property, or

 

  within 180 days after the sale-leaseback transaction, Plains Exploration applies or causes to be applied to the retirement of its Funded Debt or the Funded Debt of any Subsidiary, other than its Funded Debt which is subordinate in right of payment to the Senior Debt Securities, an amount not less than the net proceeds of the sale of the Principal Property.

 

Notwithstanding the above provisions, Plains Exploration may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, effect any sale-leaseback transaction involving any Principal Property, provided that the net sale proceeds from the sale-leaseback transaction, together with all Debt secured by Mortgages other than Permitted Mortgages, does not exceed 10% of Plains Exploration’s total consolidated shareholders’ equity as shown on the audited consolidated balance sheet contained in Plains Exploration’s latest annual report to shareholders. (Section 1007)

 

Definitions

 

For the purposes of the description of the Senior Debt Securities:

 

“Debt” means indebtedness for money borrowed.

 

12


Table of Contents

“Funded Debt” of any person means all indebtedness for borrowed money created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed in any manner by the person, and all indebtedness incurred or assumed by the person in connection with the acquisition of any business, property or asset, which in each case matures more than one year after, or which is renewable or extendible or payable out of the proceeds of similar indebtedness incurred pursuant to the terms of any revolving credit agreement or any similar agreement at the option of the person for a period ending more than one year after the date as of which Funded Debt is being determined. However, Funded Debt does not include:

 

  any indebtedness for the payment, redemption or satisfaction of which money, or evidences of indebtedness, if permitted under the instrument creating or evidencing the indebtedness, in the necessary amount has been irrevocably deposited in trust with a trustee or proper depository either on or before the maturity or redemption date thereof;

 

  any indebtedness of the person to any of its Subsidiaries or of any Subsidiary to the person or any other Subsidiary; or

 

  any indebtedness incurred in connection with the financing of operating, construction or acquisition projects, provided that the recourse for the indebtedness is limited to the assets of the projects.

 

“Mortgage” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge or security interest of any kind.

 

“Principal Property” means proved properties (as such term is defined in Regulation S-X) owned or leased by Plains Exploration or any of its Subsidiaries, unless, in the opinion of Plains Exploration Board of Directors, any of the properties are not in the aggregate of material importance to the total business conducted by Plains Exploration and its Subsidiaries as an entirety.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which owns or leases (as lessor or lessee) a Principal Property, but does not include any Subsidiary the principal business of which is leasing machinery, equipment, vehicles or other properties none of which is a Principal Property, or financing accounts receivable, or engaging in ownership and development of any property or assets which is not a Principal Property.

 

“Subsidiary”, when used with respect to Plains Exploration, means any corporation of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by Plains Exploration or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or both.

 

NOTICES

 

Notices to Holders of Debt Securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such Holders as they may appear in the Security Register. (Section 106)

 

TITLE

 

Plains Exploration, any guarantor, the Trustees and any agent of Plains Exploration, any guarantor or a Trustee may treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the owner of the Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security may be overdue) for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes. (Section 308)

 

TRUSTEES

 

Plains Exploration may maintain banking and other commercial relationships with any Trustee and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and any Trustee may own debt securities and serve as Trustee under Plains Exploration’s other indentures.

 

GOVERNING LAW

 

The Indentures, any guarantees and the Debt Securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. (Section 112)

 

13


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF PLAINS EXPLORATION CAPITAL STOCK

 

Pursuant to its certificate of incorporation, Plains Exploration has the authority to issue an aggregate of 105,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. On January 16, 2004 Plains Exploration had 40,299,462 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

 

Selected provisions of Plains Exploration’s organizational documents are summarized below, however, you should read the organizational documents for other provisions that may be important to you. In addition, you should be aware that the summary below does not give full effect to the terms of the provisions of statutory or common law which may affect your rights as a stockholder.

 

COMMON STOCK

 

Voting rights. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of directors and on all other matters submitted to a vote of Plains Exploration’s stockholders. Plains Exploration’s stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.

 

Dividends, distributions and stock splits. Holders of Plains Exploration common stock are entitled to receive dividends if, as and when such dividends are declared by Plains Exploration’s board out of assets legally available therefor after payment of dividends required to be paid on shares of preferred stock, if any. Plains Exploration’s credit facility and the indenture relating to its 8.75% senior subordinated notes restrict its ability to pay cash dividends.

 

Liquidation. In the event of any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of Plains Exploration’s affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment of its debts and other liabilities and making provision for any holders of its preferred stock who have a liquidation preference, Plains Exploration’s remaining assets will be distributed ratably among the holders of common stock.

 

Fully paid. All shares of common stock outstanding are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Other rights. Holders of Plains Exploration common stock have no redemption or conversion rights and no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for its securities.

 

PREFERRED STOCK

 

Plains Exploration’s board of directors has the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rates, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of that series, which may be superior to those of the common stock, without further vote or action by the stockholders. As of the date of this prospectus, there are no outstanding shares of preferred stock.

 

One of the effects of undesignated preferred stock may be to enable Plains Exploration’s board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of Plains Exploration by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise, and as a result to protect the continuity of its management. The issuance of shares of the preferred stock by Plains Exploration’s board of directors as described above may adversely affect the rights of the holders of common stock. For example, preferred stock issued by Plains Exploration may rank superior to the common stock as to dividend rights, liquidation preference or both, may have full or limited voting rights and may be convertible into shares of common stock. Accordingly, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may discourage bids for Plains Exploration common stock or may otherwise adversely affect the market price of Plains Exploration common stock.

 

14


Table of Contents

DELAWARE ANTI-TAKEOVER LAW AND CERTAIN CHARTER AND BYLAW PROVISIONS

 

Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law, or “DGCL” contain certain provisions that could discourage potential takeover attempts and make it more difficult for Plains Exploration stockholders to change management or receive a premium for their shares.

 

Delaware law. Plains Exploration is subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law. In general, the statute prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder. A “business combination” includes a merger, sale of 10% or more of Plains Exploration’s assets and certain other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the stockholder. For purposes of Section 203, an “interested stockholder” is defined to include any person that is:

 

  the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation;

 

  an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the voting stock outstanding of the corporation, at any time within three years immediately prior to the relevant date; and

 

  an affiliate or associate of the persons described in the foregoing bullet points.

 

However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if:

 

  Plains Exploration’s board approves the transaction that made the stockholder an interested stockholder prior to the date of that transaction;

 

  after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of Plains Exploration’s voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by Plains Exploration’s officers and directors; or

 

  on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combinations approved by Plains Exploration’s board and authorized at a meeting of its stockholders by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Stockholders may, by adopting an amendment to the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, elect for the corporation not to be governed by Section 203, effective 12 months after adoption. Neither Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation nor its bylaws exempt it from the restrictions imposed under Section 203. It is anticipated that the provisions of Section 203 may encourage companies interested in acquiring Plains Exploration to negotiate in advance with Plains Exploration’s board.

 

Charter and bylaw provisions. Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by its stockholders may only be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and may not be taken by written consent of the stockholders unless Plains Exploration’s board of directors approves the taking of the action by written consent. If the board of directors authorizes Plains Exploration’s stockholders to take action by written consent, then the stockholders may take action by written consent if stockholders having not less than the minimum number of votes necessary to take the action sign the consent. Special meetings of stockholders may be called by Plains Exploration’s chairman, chief executive officer or by a majority of the board.

 

Directors may be removed with the approval of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Stockholders with or without cause may remove directors. Vacancies and newly-created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by law.

 

 

15


Table of Contents

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

 

Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation contains certain provisions permitted under the DGCL relating to the liability of directors. These provisions eliminate a director’s personal liability for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, except that a director will be personally liable:

 

  for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Plains Exploration or Plains Exploration’s stockholders;

 

  for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

  under Section 174 of the DGCL relating to unlawful stock repurchases or dividends; and

 

  for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.

 

These provisions do not limit or eliminate Plains Exploration’s rights or those of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s fiduciary duty. These provisions will not alter a director’s liability under federal securities laws.

 

Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws also provide that Plains Exploration must indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law and also provide that it must advance expenses, as incurred, to its directors and officers in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, subject to very limited exceptions.

 

STOCK EXCHANGE

 

Plains Exploration common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PXP.”

 

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

 

The Transfer Agent and Registrar for Plains Exploration common stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company. Its phone number is 1-800-937-5449.

 

16


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES OF PLAINS EXPLORATION

 

GENERAL

 

Plains Exploration may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If Plains Exploration decides to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, Plains Exploration will issue receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. A prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between Plains Exploration and a depositary that is a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by Plains Exploration. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all of the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.

 

We have summarized all material provisions of the deposit agreement and the depositary receipts. The forms of the deposit agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC on a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to Plains Exploration’s offering of the depositary shares, and you should read such documents for provisions that may be important to you.

 

DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS

 

If Plains Exploration pays a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. If, however, the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the depositary may, with Plains Exploration’s approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the holders of the preferred stock.

 

REDEMPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

If Plains Exploration redeems a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the depositary may determine.

 

VOTING THE PREFERRED STOCK

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may instruct the depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and Plains Exploration will take all action that the depositary deems necessary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.

 

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSITARY AGREEMENT

 

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between the depositary and Plains Exploration. Any amendment that materially

 

17


Table of Contents

and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not, however, be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by the depositary or Plains Exploration only if (a) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or (b) there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Plains Exploration and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.

 

CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY

 

Plains Exploration will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. Plains Exploration will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.

 

WITHDRAWAL OF PREFERRED STOCK

 

Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the deposit agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from Plains Exploration that are delivered to the depositary and that Plains Exploration is required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

 

Neither Plains Exploration nor the depositary will be liable if Plains Exploration is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the depositary and Plains Exploration under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of their duties thereunder, and Plains Exploration will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. Plains Exploration may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

 

RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY

 

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering notice to Plains Exploration of its election to do so, and Plains Exploration may at any time remove the depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000.

 

18


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WARRANTS OF PLAINS EXPLORATION

 

Plains Exploration may issue securities warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock or other securities. Securities warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock or other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of securities warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between Plains Exploration and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of securities warrants. The securities warrant agent will act solely as Plains Exploration’s agent in connection with the securities warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of securities warrants or beneficial owners of securities warrants.

 

We have summarized all material provisions of the securities warrant agreements. A form of the applicable securities warrant agreement will be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K prior to any offering of the applicable warrants, and you should read such document for provisions that may be important to you. A prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of securities warrants will contain the terms of and information relating to that issue of securities warrants, including, where applicable:

 

  the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of securities warrants to purchase debt securities and the price at which such debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

  the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of securities warrants to purchase common stock and the price at which such number of shares of common stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

  the number of shares and series of preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon the exercise of securities warrants to purchase preferred stock or depositary shares and the price at which such number of shares of such series of preferred stock or depositary shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

  the designation and number of units of other securities purchasable upon the exercise of securities warrants to purchase other securities and the price at which such number of units of such other securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

  the date on which the right to exercise such securities warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

 

  United States federal income tax consequences applicable to such securities warrants;

 

  the amount of securities warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and

 

  any other terms of such securities warrants.

 

Securities warrants will be issued in registered form only. The exercise price for securities warrants will be subject to adjustment in accordance with a prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of securities warranties.

 

Each securities warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such principal amount of debt securities or such number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or other securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, a prospectus supplement relating to the securities warrants, which exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, or such later date to which such expiration date may be extended by Plains Exploration, unexercised securities warrants will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, securities warrants may be exercised shall be specified in a prospectus supplement relating to such securities warrants.

 

Prior to the exercise of any securities warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or other securities, holders of such securities warrants will not have any of the rights of holders

 

19


Table of Contents

of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or other securities, as the case may be, purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise or to enforce covenants in any applicable indenture, or to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon such exercise, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

 

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS OF

PLAINS EXPLORATION

 

Plains Exploration may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from Plains Exploration, and obligating Plains Exploration to sell to holders, a specified number of shares of common stock or other securities at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as “stock purchase contracts.” The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and debt securities, preferred securities, warrants or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the stock purchase contracts, which we refer to herein as “stock purchase units.” The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the stock purchase contracts in a specified manner. The stock purchase contracts also may require Plains Exploration to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. In addition, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth:

 

  the names of the selling stockholders;

 

  the number of shares of common stock held by each of the selling stockholders;

 

  the percentage of the outstanding common stock held by each of the selling stockholders; and

 

  the number of shares of common stock offered by each of the selling stockholders.

 

Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase units and the stock purchase contracts will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Any of the securities that we may offer under this prospectus may be sold in or outside the United States through underwriters or dealers, agents or directly to one or more purchasers, including Plains Exploration’s existing stockholders in a rights offering. The prospectus supplement relating to the securities offered by this prospectus will include, to the extent required, the following information:

 

  the terms of the offering;

 

  the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

  the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

 

  the purchase price of the securities offered by this prospectus;

 

  the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;

 

  any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

20


Table of Contents
  any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

  any initial public offering price;

 

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

 

  any commissions paid to agents; and

 

  Any securities exchange on which the securities offered by this prospectus may be listed.

 

If we use underwriters in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change, from time to time, any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

 

If we use dealers in the sale of securities, the securities will be sold directly to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale.

 

We may sell the securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. Plains Exploration may sell securities upon the exercise of rights that Plains Exploration may issue to its security holders. We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities.

 

We may sell the securities through agents we designate from time to time. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

 

If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us, at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

 

We may have agreements with the agents, dealers and underwriters to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business.

 

21


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has acted as our counsel in connection with this offering and has issued a preliminary opinion regarding the validity of the issuance of the securities offered by this prospectus. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Plains Exploration, incorporated in this prospectus by reference to Plains Exploration’s filing on Form S-4 (333-108407) on August 29, 2003 have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

Certain information with respect to the oil and gas reserves associated with Plains Exploration’s oil and gas properties is derived from the reports of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., Ryder Scott Company, L.P., and H.J. Gruy and Associates, Inc., independent petroleum consulting firms, and has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus upon the authority of said firms as experts with respect to the matters covered by such reports and in giving such reports.

 

The consolidated financial statements of 3TEC Energy Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report dated February 14, 2003 of KPMG LLP, independent auditors, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report dated February 14, 2003 refers to a change in the method of accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities effective January 1, 2001.

 

Certain information with respect to the oil and gas reserves associated with 3TEC’s oil and gas properties is derived from the reports of Ryder Scott Company, L.P., an independent petroleum consulting firm, and has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus upon the authority of said firm as experts with respect to the matters covered by such reports and in giving such reports.

 

22


Table of Contents

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

Each time we offer to sell securities we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including any guarantees. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, will include or refer you to all material information relating to each offering.

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC (File No. 001-31470). Plains Exploration’s SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and at our web site at http://www.plainsxp.com. You may also read and copy at prescribed rates any document Plains Exploration files at the SEC’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

Plains Exploration’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PXP.” Our reports, proxy statements and other information may be read and copied at the NYSE at 20 Broad Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10005.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information Plains Exploration files with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that Plains Exploration files later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and all documents Plains Exploration subsequently files with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than information furnished to the SEC pursuant to Item 9 or Item 12 of Form 8-K) until we sell all of the securities described in this prospectus or we terminate this offering:

 

  our consolidated financial statements included in our Form S-4 (333-108407) filed August 29, 2003;

 

  our annual report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2002;

 

  our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2003, June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2003;

 

  our current reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished pursuant to Item 9 or Item 12), filed with the SEC on February 3, 2003, February 21, 2003, May 15, 2003, June 19, 2003, July 1, 2003, October 9, 2003, and January 20, 2004; and

 

  the description of Plains Exploration’s common stock contained in our Form 10 registration statement filed with the SEC on November 8, 2002, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed November 21, 2002, Amendment No. 2 filed December 3, 2002, and Amendment No. 3 filed December 6, 2002.

 

You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing), at no cost, by writing to us at the following address or calling the following number:

 

Plains Exploration & Production Company

Attention: Corporate Secretary

700 Milam, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

(832) 239-6000

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to provide you with additional or different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.

 

23


Table of Contents

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.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 20, 2004

 

PROSPECTUS

 

(Plains Exploration & Production Company LOGO)

 

4,265,109 shares

 

Plains Exploration and Production Company

 

COMMON STOCK

 


 

This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time of up to an aggregate of 4,265,109 shares of our common stock for the account of the stockholders named in this prospectus. A selling stockholder may sell none, some or all of the shares offered by this prospectus. We cannot predict when or in what amounts a selling stockholder may sell any of the shares offered by this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PXP.” On January 16, 2004 the last reported sales price for our common stock was $15.44 per share.

 

Investing in our common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider information under the headings “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page i and “ Risk Factors” referred to on page 1 of this prospectus before you make an investment in our securities.

 


 

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

 


 

Notice to New Hampshire Residents

 

Neither the fact that a registration statement or an application for a license has been filed under RSA 421-B with the State of New Hampshire nor the fact that a security is effectively registered or a person is licensed in the State of New Hampshire constitutes a finding by the Secretary of State that any document filed under RSA 421-B is true, complete and not misleading. Neither any such fact nor the fact that an exemption or exception is available for a security or a transaction means that the Secretary of State has passed in any way upon the merits or qualifications of, or recommended or given approval to, any person, security or transaction. It is unlawful to make, or cause to be made, to any prospective purchaser, customer or client any representation inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph.

 


 

This prospectus is dated             , 2004


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE

About This Prospectus

   i

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

   ii

About Plains Exploration

   1

Risk Factors

   1

Use of Proceeds

   1

Description of Plains Exploration Capital Stock

   1

Selling Stockholders

   4

Plan of Distribution

   5

Legal Matters

   7

Experts

   7

Where You Can Find More Information

   8

 


 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the selling stockholders may, over time, offer and sell the common stock described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the common stock the selling stockholders may offer. If required, each time the selling stockholders offers common stock, we will provide one or more prospectus supplements that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Unless the context requires otherwise or unless otherwise noted, all references in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement to “Plains Exploration” and to the “company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are to Plains Exploration & Production Company and its subsidiaries.

 

i


Table of Contents

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This prospectus includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about us that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “plans,” “likely,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “estimates,” “thinks,” “may,” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things, those matters discussed under the caption “Risk Factors,” as well as the following:

 

  uncertainties inherent in the development and production of and exploration for oil and gas and in estimating reserves;

 

  the consequences of any potential change in the relationship between us and Plains Resources Inc., or “Plains Resources”;

 

  unexpected difficulties in integrating operations as a result of any significant acquisitions;

 

  the consequences of our officers and employees providing services to both us and Plains Resources and not being required to spend any specific percentage or amount of time on our business;

 

  unexpected future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof);

 

  the impact of oil and gas price fluctuations;

 

  the effects of our indebtedness, which could adversely restrict our ability to operate, could make us vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions, could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt, and could have other adverse consequences;

 

  the effects of competition;

 

  the success of our risk management activities;

 

  the availability (or lack thereof) of acquisition or combination opportunities;

 

  the impact of current and future laws and governmental regulations;

 

  environmental liabilities that are not covered by an effective indemnity or insurance; and

 

  general economic, market or business conditions.

 

All forward-looking statements in this prospectus are made as of the date hereof, and you should not rely on these statements without also considering the risks and uncertainties associated with these statements and our business that are addressed in this prospectus. Moreover, although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that we will attain these expectations or that any deviations will not be material.

 

ii


Table of Contents

ABOUT PLAINS EXPLORATION

 

We are an independent oil and gas company engaged in exploring for, acquiring, exploiting, developing and producing oil and gas in the United States. We own oil and gas properties in ten states with principal operations in:

 

  The Los Angeles and San Joaquin Basins in California;

 

  The Santa Maria Basin offshore California;

 

  The Gulf Coast Basin onshore and offshore Louisiana; and

 

  The East Texas Basin in east Texas and north Louisiana.

 

Assets in our principal focus areas include mature properties with long-lived reserves and significant development opportunities as well as newer properties with development and exploration potential. We opportunistically hedge portions of our oil and gas production to manage our exposure to commodity price risk.

 

Plains Exploration’s executive offices are located at 700 Milam, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002, and the telephone number there is (832) 239-6000. Plains Exploration maintains a website on the Internet at http://www.plainsxp.com. Unless specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus, information that you may find on the website is not part of this prospectus.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and other documents we have filed with the SEC before investing in our securities. You should also consider similar information contained in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time of up to an aggregate of 4,265,109 shares of common stock for the account of the selling stockholders referred to in this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any shares of common stock by the selling stockholders.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PLAINS EXPLORATION CAPITAL STOCK

 

Pursuant to its certificate of incorporation, Plains Exploration has the authority to issue an aggregate of 105,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. On January 16, 2004 Plains Exploration had 40,299,462 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

 

Selected provisions of Plains Exploration’s organizational documents are summarized below, however, you should read the organizational documents for other provisions that may be important to you. In addition, you should be aware that the summary below does not give full effect to the terms of the provisions of statutory or common law which may affect your rights as a stockholder.

 

COMMON STOCK

 

Voting rights. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of directors and on all other matters submitted to a vote of Plains Exploration’s stockholders. Plains Exploration’s stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.

 

1


Table of Contents

Dividends, distributions and stock splits. Holders of Plains Exploration common stock are entitled to receive dividends if, as and when such dividends are declared by Plains Exploration’s board out of assets legally available therefor after payment of dividends required to be paid on shares of preferred stock, if any. Plains Exploration’s credit facility and the indenture relating to its 8.75% senior subordinated notes restrict its ability to pay cash dividends.

 

Liquidation. In the event of any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of Plains Exploration’s affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment of its debts and other liabilities and making provision for any holders of its preferred stock who have a liquidation preference, Plains Exploration’s remaining assets will be distributed ratably among the holders of common stock.

 

Fully paid. All shares of common stock outstanding are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Other rights. Holders of Plains Exploration common stock have no redemption or conversion rights and no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for its securities.

 

PREFERRED STOCK

 

Plains Exploration’s board of directors has the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rates, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of that series, which may be superior to those of the common stock, without further vote or action by the stockholders. As of the date of this prospectus, there are no outstanding shares of preferred stock.

 

One of the effects of undesignated preferred stock may be to enable Plains Exploration’s board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of Plains Exploration by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise, and as a result to protect the continuity of its management. The issuance of shares of the preferred stock by Plains Exploration’s board of directors as described above may adversely affect the rights of the holders of common stock. For example, preferred stock issued by Plains Exploration may rank superior to the common stock as to dividend rights, liquidation preference or both, may have full or limited voting rights and may be convertible into shares of common stock. Accordingly, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may discourage bids for Plains Exploration common stock or may otherwise adversely affect the market price of Plains Exploration common stock.

 

DELAWARE ANTI-TAKEOVER LAW AND CERTAIN CHARTER AND BYLAW PROVISIONS

 

Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law, or “DGCL” contain certain provisions that could discourage potential takeover attempts and make it more difficult for Plains Exploration stockholders to change management or receive a premium for their shares.

 

Delaware law. Plains Exploration is subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law. In general, the statute prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder. A “business combination” includes a merger, sale of 10% or more of Plains Exploration’s assets and certain other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the stockholder. For purposes of Section 203, an “interested stockholder” is defined to include any person that is:

 

  the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation;

 

  an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the voting stock outstanding of the corporation, at any time within three years immediately prior to the relevant date; and

 

  an affiliate or associate of the persons described in the foregoing bullet points.

 

2


Table of Contents

However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if:

 

  Plains Exploration’s board approves the transaction that made the stockholder an interested stockholder prior to the date of that transaction;

 

  after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of Plains Exploration’s voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by Plains Exploration’s officers and directors; or

 

  on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combinations approved by Plains Exploration’s board and authorized at a meeting of its stockholders by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Stockholders may, by adopting an amendment to the corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, elect for the corporation not to be governed by Section 203, effective 12 months after adoption. Neither Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation nor its bylaws exempt it from the restrictions imposed under Section 203. It is anticipated that the provisions of Section 203 may encourage companies interested in acquiring Plains Exploration to negotiate in advance with Plains Exploration’s board.

 

Charter and bylaw provisions. Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by its stockholders may only be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and may not be taken by written consent of the stockholders unless Plains Exploration’s board of directors approves the taking of the action by written consent. If the board of directors authorizes Plains Exploration’s stockholders to take action by written consent, then the stockholders may take action by written consent if the consent is signed by stockholders having not less than the minimum number of votes necessary to take the action. Special meetings of stockholders may be called by Plains Exploration’s chairman, chief executive officer or by a majority of the board.

 

Directors may be removed with the approval of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Directors may be removed by stockholders with or without cause. Vacancies and newly-created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by law.

 

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

 

Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation contains certain provisions permitted under the DGCL relating to the liability of directors. These provisions eliminate a director’s personal liability for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, except that a director will be personally liable:

 

  for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Plains Exploration or Plains Exploration’s stockholders;

 

  for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

  under Section 174 of the DGCL relating to unlawful stock repurchases or dividends; and

 

  for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit.

 

These provisions do not limit or eliminate Plains Exploration’s rights or those of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s fiduciary duty. These provisions will not alter a director’s liability under federal securities laws.

 

3


Table of Contents

Plains Exploration’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws also provide that Plains Exploration must indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law and also provide that it must advance expenses, as incurred, to its directors and officers in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, subject to very limited exceptions.

 

STOCK EXCHANGE

 

Plains Exploration common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PXP.”

 

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

 

The Transfer Agent and Registrar for Plains Exploration common stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company. Its phone number is 1-800-937-5449.

 

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

On January 16, 2004, we received notice from EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P., EnCap Energy Capital Fund III-B, L.P., EnCap Energy Acquisition III-B, Inc. and BOCP Energy Partners, L.P., referred to as the selling stockholders, exercising certain of selling stockholders’ rights under the registration rights agreement described below by requesting that we register under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part 4,265,109 shares of Plains Exploration common stock held by the selling stockholders. Accordingly, this prospectus relates to the offer and sale of up to 4,265,109 shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders and certain of their donees, pledgees, transferees and successors-in-interest. Robert L. Zorich, Senior Managing Director of EnCap Investments LLC, resigned from Plains Exploration’s board of directors concurrently with the delivery of the notice.

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by the selling stockholders as of January 16, 2004. Beneficial ownership is calculated based on 40,299,462 shares of our common stock outstanding as of that date.

 

Name of Selling Stockholder


   Shares Offered
Hereby


   Shares Owned Before
Offering


   Shares Owned
After Offering (1)


      Number

   Percent

   Number

   Percent

EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P. (2)(6)

   2,140,906    2,140,906    5.31    —      —  

EnCap Energy Capital Fund III-B, L.P. (3)(6)

   593,849    593,849    1.47    —      —  

EnCap Energy Acquisition III-B, Inc. (4)(6)

   1,011,098    1,011,098    2.51    —      —  

BOCP Energy Partners, L.P. (5)(6)

   519,256    519,256    1.29    —      —  

(1) Assumes the sale of all shares of common stock offered by this prospectus and no other purchases or sales of our common stock by the selling stockholders. If the selling stockholders do not sell all of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus, actual ownership after the offering will be higher than this table reflects.
(2) EnCap Investments LLC (“EnCap Investments”) as the sole general partner of EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P. (“EnCap III”), may be deemed the beneficial owner of these shares owned by EnCap III.
(3) EnCap Investments, as the sole general partner of EnCap Energy Capital Fund III-B, L.P. (“EnCap III-B”), may be deemed the beneficial owner of the shares of owned by EnCap III-B.
(4) EnCap Investments, as the controlling person of EnCap Energy Acquisition III-B (“EnCap Acquisition III-B”), may be deemed the beneficial owner of these shares owned by EnCap Acquisition III-B.
(5) EnCap Investments may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares owned by BOCP Energy Partners, L.P. (“BOCP”) as a result of being the manager of BOCP.
(6) EnCap Investments may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 4,265,109 shares or approximately 10.58% of the outstanding shares. EnCap Investments disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by EnCap III, EnCap III-B, EnCap Acquisition III-B, and BOCP.

 

4


Table of Contents

Each of El Paso Merchant Energy and El Paso Corporation may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares owned or deemed owned by EnCap Investments (by virtue of being controlling persons of EnCap Investments). El Paso Merchant Energy and El Paso Corporation disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock owned or deemed owned by EnCap Investments.

 

Registration Rights Agreement. We, EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P., EnCap Energy Acquisition III-B, Inc., BOCP Energy Partners, L.P., ECIC Corporation and EnCap Investments L.L.C. (collectively, the “Holders”) are parties to a registration rights agreement, dated as of February 2, 2003. The agreement affords the Holders certain rights, including the right to: (i) require us to undertake, from time to time, the registration with the SEC of some or all of the shares of common stock the Holders own, subject to customary limitations as set forth in the registration rights agreement; and (ii) request that some or all of the shares of common stock owned by the Holders be included with other shares of common stock that we propose to register with the SEC, subject to customary limitations as set forth in the registration rights agreement.

 

We will pay all expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the common stock owned by the Holders, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The selling stockholders may offer and sell shares of our common stock from time to time with this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds of the sales of these shares.

 

WHO MAY SELL AND APPLICABLE RESTRICTIONS

 

The selling stockholders may offer and sell shares with this prospectus directly to purchasers. The selling stockholders may donate, pledge or otherwise transfer its shares to any person so long as the transfer complies with applicable securities laws. As a result, donees, pledgees, transferees and other successors in interest that receive such shares as a gift, distribution or other non-sale related transfer may offer shares of common stock under this prospectus.

 

The selling stockholders may from time to time offer shares through brokers, dealers or agents. Brokers, dealers, agents or underwriters participating in transactions may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders (and, if they act as agent for the purchaser of the shares, from that purchaser). The discounts, concessions or commissions may be in excess of those customary in the type of transaction involved. Any brokerage commissions and similar selling expenses attributable to the sale of shares covered by this prospectus will be borne by the selling stockholders. To comply with some state securities laws, the shares may be sold in those jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

 

The selling stockholders and any brokers, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of the shares may be deemed to be underwriters, and any profits on the sale of shares by them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by any broker, dealer or agent may be deemed underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

PROSPECTUS DELIVERY

 

A prospectus supplement or a post-effective amendment may be filed with the SEC to disclose additional information with respect to the distribution of the shares. In particular, if we receive notice from the selling stockholders that the selling stockholders have entered into a material arrangement with an underwriter or broker-dealer for the sale of shares covered by this prospectus, then to the extent required we will file a supplement to this prospectus.

 

5


Table of Contents

MANNER OF SALES

 

The selling stockholders may act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale. Sales may be made on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale. The shares may be sold at then prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices, at fixed prices or at other negotiated prices.

 

The shares may be sold according to one or more of the following methods:

 

  a block trade in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

  purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by the broker or dealer for its account as allowed under this prospectus;

 

  ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;

 

  pledges of shares to a broker-dealer or other person, who may, in the event of default, purchase or sell the pledged shares;

 

  an exchange distribution under the rules of the exchange;

 

  face-to-face transactions between sellers and purchasers without a broker-dealer;

 

  transactions directly with a market-maker;

 

  through the writing of options; and

 

  any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

In addition, the selling stockholders may generally enter into option, derivative or hedging transactions with respect to the shares, and any related offers or sales of shares may be made under this prospectus. The selling stockholders may, for example:

 

  enter into transactions involving short sales of the shares by broker-dealers in the course of hedging the positions they assume with the selling stockholders;

 

  sell shares short and deliver the shares registered hereby to settle such short sales or to close out stock loans incurred in connection with its short positions;

 

  write call options, put options or other derivative instruments (including exchange-traded options or privately negotiated options) with respect to the shares, or which it settles through delivery of the shares;

 

  enter into option transactions or other types of transactions that require the selling stockholders to deliver shares to a broker, dealer or other financial institution, who may then resell or transfer the shares under this prospectus; or

 

  loan or pledge the shares to a broker, dealer or other financial institution, who may sell the loaned shares.

 

These option, derivative and hedging transactions may require the delivery to a broker, dealer or other financial institution of shares offered under this prospectus, and that broker, dealer or other financial institution may resell those shares under this prospectus.

 

If a material arrangement with any broker-dealer or other agent is entered into for the sale of any shares of common stock through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution, secondary distribution, or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a prospectus supplement will be filed, if necessary, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act disclosing the material terms and conditions of these arrangements.

 

 

6


Table of Contents

The selling stockholders may also sell their shares in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or pursuant to other available exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock may not simultaneously engage in market-making activities with respect to common stock for five business days prior to the start of the distribution. In addition, the selling stockholders and any other person participating in a distribution will be subject to the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of common stock by the selling stockholders or any other person.

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

The selling stockholders may agree to indemnify any broker-dealer or agent that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares against some liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Houston, Texas, has issued an opinion regarding the validity of the issuance of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus, which opinion is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Plains Exploration incorporated in this prospectus by reference to Plains Exploration’s filing on Form S-4 (333-108407) on August 29, 2003 have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

Certain information with respect to the oil and gas reserves associated with Plains Exploration’s oil and gas properties is derived from the reports of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., Ryder Scott Company, L.P., and H.J. Gruy and Associates, Inc., independent petroleum consulting firms, and has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus upon the authority of said firms as experts with respect to the matters covered by such reports and in giving such reports.

 

The consolidated financial statements of 3TEC Energy Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report dated February 14, 2003 of KPMG LLP, independent auditors, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report dated February 14, 2003 refers to a change in the method of accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities effective January 1, 2001.

 

Certain information with respect to the oil and gas reserves associated with 3TEC’s oil and gas properties is derived from the reports of Ryder Scott Company, L.P., an independent petroleum consulting firm, and has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus upon the authority of said firm as experts with respect to the matters covered by such reports and in giving such reports.

 

7


Table of Contents

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC (File No. 001-31470). Plains Exploration’s SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy at prescribed rates any document Plains Exploration files at the SEC’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

Plains Exploration’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PXP.” Our reports, proxy statements and other information may be read and copied at the NYSE at 20 Broad Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10005.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information Plains Exploration files with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that Plains Exploration files later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and all documents Plains Exploration subsequently files with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than information furnished to the SEC pursuant to Item 9 or Item 12 of Form 8-K) until we sell all of the securities described in this prospectus or we terminate this offering:

 

  our consolidated financial statements included in our Form S-4 (333-108407) filed August 29, 2003;

 

  our annual report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2002;

 

  our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2003, June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2003;

 

  our current reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished pursuant to Item 9 or Item 12), filed with the SEC on February 3, 2003, February 21, 2003, May 15, 2003, June 19, 2003, July 1, 2003, October 9, 2003, and January 20, 2004; and

 

  the description of Plains Exploration’s common stock contained in our Form 10 registration statement filed with the SEC on November 8, 2002, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed November 21, 2002, Amendment No. 2 filed December 3, 2002, and Amendment No. 3 filed December 6, 2002.

 

You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing), at no cost, by writing to us at the following address or calling the following number:

 

Plains Exploration & Production Company

Attention: Corporate Secretary

700 Milam, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

(832) 239-6000

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to provide you with additional or different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.

 

8


Table of Contents

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

 

The expenses of this offering (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) are estimated to be as follows:

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

   $ 24,300

Legal fees and expenses

     75,000

Accounting fees and expenses

     75,000

Trustee fees and expenses

     50,000

Printing expenses

     75,000

Miscellaneous

     40,700
    

Total

   $ 340,000
    

 

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

The discussion below summarizes the material indemnification provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that we must indemnify to the full extent authorized or permitted by law any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or contemplated action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative) any appeal in such action, suit or proceeding and any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such action, suit or proceeding by reason of fact that he is or was one of our directors or officers or by reason of the fact that such director or officer, at our request, is or was serving as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of an enterprise. The rights to indemnification set forth above are not exclusive of any other rights to which such person may be entitled under any statute, provision of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, agreements, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Additionally, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide for mandatory indemnification of our officers and directors to at least the extent specifically allowed by Section 145 of the DGCL. However, under our certificate of incorporation, except for proceedings to enforce right to indemnification, we are not required to indemnify anyone (including his heirs, executors or representatives) in connection with any action, suit or proceeding initiated by such person unless it was authorized by or consented to the our board. Our bylaws follow the language of Section 145 of the DGCL; however, the advancement of expenses by us does not extend to administrative or investigative actions, suits and proceedings.

 

Pursuant to Section 145 of the DGCL, we generally have the power to indemnify our current and former directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses and liabilities that they incur in connection with any suit to which they are, or are threatened to be made, a party by reason of their serving in such positions so long as they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and with respect to any criminal action, they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. The statute expressly provides that the power to indemnify or advance expenses authorized thereby is not exclusive of any rights granted under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both costs actions in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. We also have the power to purchase and maintain insurance for such directors and officers.

 

We are also required, until June 4, 2009, to indemnify the present and former officers and directors of 3TEC and its subsidiaries from liabilities actually and reasonably incurred by them arising out of actions or omissions in their capacity as such prior to June 4, 2003, to the full extent permitted under Delaware law or our certificate of incorporation, bylaws. In addition, we will maintain 3TEC’s directors’ and officers’ insurance coverage the same period of time, but only to the extent related to actions or omissions prior to June 4, 2003.

 

II-1


Table of Contents

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number


   

Description


1.1 **   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1     Certificate of Incorporation of Plains Exploration & Production Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on October 4, 2002).
3.2     Bylaws of Plains Exploration & Production Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on October 4, 2002).
4.1     Indenture dated July 3, 2002 among Plains Exploration & Production Company, Plains E&P Company, Arguello Inc., Plains Illinois Inc., Plains Resources International Inc., PMCT Inc., and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 filed on August 28, 2002).
4.2     Form of 8 3/4% Senior Subordinated Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 filed on August 28, 2002).
4.3     Registration Rights Agreement dated May 30, 2003 by and among Plains Exploration & Production Company, Plains E&P Company, Arguello Inc., Plains Illinois Inc., Plains Resources International Inc., PMCT Inc., PXP Gulf Coast Inc., and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form S-4 filed on August 29, 2003)
4.4     First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2003, among PXP Gulf Coast Inc., Plains Exploration & Production Company, and Plains E&P Company, each other then existing Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2003).
4.5 *   Form of Senior Indenture of Plains Exploration & Production Company.
4.6 *   Form of Subordinated Indenture of Plains Exploration & Production Company.
4.7 **   Form of Debt Securities.
4.8 **   Form of Securities Warrants.
4.9 **   Form of Stock Purchase Warrants.
4.10 **   Form of Depositary Receipts.
4.11 **   Form of Stock Purchase Contracts.
4.12 **   Form of Stock Purchase Units.
4.13     Registration Rights Agreement dated February 2, 2003, among Plains Exploration and Production Company, EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P., EnCap Energy Acquisition III-B, Inc., BOCP Energy Partners, L.P., ECIC Corporation and EnCap Investments L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2003)
5.1 *   Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as to the legality of securities being offered.
12.1 *   Calculation of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1 *   Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2 *   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.3 *   Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors for 3TEC Energy Corporation.
23.4 *   Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

 

II-2


Table of Contents

Exhibit

Number


   

Description


23.5 *   Consent of Ryder Scott Company.
23.6 *   Consent of H.J. Gruy & Associates, Inc.
24.1 *   Power of Attorney (contained in the signature page to this registration statement).
25.1 **   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under Plains Exploration’s Senior Indenture.
25.2 **   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under Plains Exploration’s Subordinated Indenture.

* Filed herewith.
** To be filed by amendment or in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

 

(a) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

 

(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 Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% 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 (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by either registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 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, 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 registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of a registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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.

 

II-3


Table of Contents

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of either registrant pursuant to any charter provision, bylaw, contract, arrangement, statute or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by either registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of such 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 registrants 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 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(d) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that:

 

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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 registrants 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, 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.

 

(e) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

II-4


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, each 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 Houston, State of Texas, on January 20, 2004.

 

PLAINS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY

By:

 

/s/    STEPHEN A. THORINGTON        


    Stephen A. Thorington
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PLAINS E&P COMPANY

By:

 

/s/    STEPHEN A. THORINGTON        


    Stephen A. Thorington
    Vice President and Treasurer
ARGUELLO INC.

By:

 

/s/    STEPHEN A. THORINGTON        


    Stephen A. Thorington
    Vice President and Treasurer
PLAINS ILLINOIS INC.

By:

 

/s/    STEPHEN A. THORINGTON        


    Stephen A. Thorington
    Vice President and Treasurer
PLAINS RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL INC.

By:

 

/s/    STEPHEN A. THORINGTON        


    Stephen A. Thorington
    Vice President and Treasurer
PMCT INC.

By:

 

/s/    STEPHEN A. THORINGTON        


    Stephen A. Thorington
    Vice President and Treasurer
PXP GULF COAST INC.

By:

 

/s/    STEPHEN A. THORINGTON        


    Stephen A. Thorington
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

II-5


Table of Contents

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James C. Flores, John T. Raymond, Stephen A. Thorington and John F. Wombwell and each of them, either of whom may act without joinder of the other, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or her might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, 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 the capacities indicated on January 20, 2004.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/    JAMES C. FLORES        


James C. Flores

  

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Plains Exploration & Production Company (Principal Executive Officer)

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PXP Gulf Coast Inc. (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/    JOHN T. RAYMOND        


John T. Raymond

  

President and Chief Operating Officer of Plains Exploration & Production Company

 

President and Director of Plains E&P Company, Plains Illinois Inc., Arguello Inc., Plains Resources International Inc. and PMCT Inc. (Principal Executive Officer)

 

President and Chief Operating Officer and Director of PXP Gulf Coast Inc.

/s/    STEPHEN A. THORINGTON        


Stephen A. Thorington

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Plains Exploration & Production Company (Principal Financial Officer)

 

Vice President and Treasurer of Plains E&P Company, Plains Illinois, Arguello Inc., Plains Resources International Inc. and PMCT Inc. (Principal Financial Officer)

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Director of PXP Gulf Coast Inc. (Principal Financial Officer)

 

II-6


Table of Contents

Signature


  

Title


/s/    JOHN F. WOMBWELL        


John F. Wombwell

  

Vice President, Secretary and Director of Plains E&P Company, Plains Illinois Inc., Arguello Inc., Plains Resources International Inc. and PMCT Inc.

 

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary and Director of PXP Gulf Coast Inc.

/s/    THOMAS M. GLADNEY        


Thomas M. Gladney

   Executive Vice President—Exploration & Production and Director of PXP Gulf Coast Inc.

/s/    CYNTHIA A. FEEBACK        


Cynthia A. Feeback

  

Senior Vice President—Accounting and Treasurer of Plains Exploration & Production Company (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Plains E&P Company, Plains Illinois Inc., Arguello Inc., Plains Resources International Inc. and PMCT Inc. (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

Senior Vice President—Accounting and Treasurer of PXP Gulf Coast Inc. (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/    ALAN R. BUCKWALTER, III      


Alan R. Buckwalter, III

   Director of Plains Exploration & Production Company

/s/    JERRY L. DEES        


Jerry L. Dees

   Director of Plains Exploration & Production Company

/s/    TOM H. DELIMITROS        


Tom H. Delimitros

   Director of Plains Exploration & Production Company

/s/    JOHN H. LOLLAR        


John H. Lollar

   Director of Plains Exploration & Production Company

 

II-7


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number


   

Description


1.1 **   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1     Certificate of Incorporation of Plains Exploration & Production Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on October 4, 2002).
3.2     Bylaws of Plains Exploration & Production Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on October 4, 2002).
4.1     Indenture dated July 3, 2002 among Plains Exploration & Production Company, Plains E&P Company, Arguello Inc., Plains Illinois Inc., Plains Resources International Inc., PMCT Inc., and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 filed on August 28, 2002).
4.2     Form of 8¾% Senior Subordinated Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 filed on August 28, 2002).
4.3     Registration Rights Agreement dated May 30, 2003 by and among Plains Exploration & Production Company, Plains E&P Company, Arguello Inc., Plains Illinois Inc., Plains Resources International Inc., PMCT Inc., PXP Gulf Coast Inc., and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form S-4 filed on August 29, 2003).
4.4     First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2003, among PXP Gulf Coast Inc., Plains Exploration & Production Company, and Plains E&P Company, each other then existing Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2003).
4.5 *   Form of Senior Indenture of Plains Exploration & Production Company.
4.6 *   Form of Subordinated Indenture of Plains Exploration & Production Company.
4.7 **   Form of Debt Securities.
4.8 **   Form of Securities Warrants.
4.9 **   Form of Stock Purchase Warrants.
4.10 **   Form of Depositary Receipts.
4.11 **   Form of Stock Purchase Contracts.
4.12 **   Form of Stock Purchase Units.
4.13     Registration Rights Agreement dated February 2, 2003, among Plains Exploration and Production Company, EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P., EnCap Energy Acquisition III-B, Inc., BOCP Energy Partners, L.P., ECIC Corporation and EnCap Investments L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2003)
5.1 *   Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as to the legality of securities being offered.
12.1 *   Calculation of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1 *   Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2 *   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.3 *   Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors for 3TEC Energy Corporation.
23.4 *   Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

 

E-1


Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number


   

Description


23.5 *   Consent of Ryder Scott Company.
23.6 *   Consent of H.J. Gruy & Associates, Inc.
24.1 *   Power of Attorney (contained in the signature page to this registration statement).
25.1 **   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under Plains Exploration’s Senior Indenture.
25.2 **   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under Plains Exploration’s Subordinated Indenture.

* Filed herewith.
** To be filed by amendment or in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

E-2

EX-4.5 3 dex45.htm FORM OF SENIOR INDENTURE Form of Senior Indenture

Exhibit 4.5

 


 

PLAINS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY

 

and

 

____________________________________

Trustee

 

FORM OF

 

SENIOR INDENTURE

 

Dated as of             ,         

 

Providing for Issuance of Securities in Series

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page

ARTICLE ONE Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

   1

            Section 101.

 

Definitions.

   1

            Section 102.

 

Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

   9

            Section 103.

 

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

   9

            Section 104.

 

Acts of Securityholders.

   10

            Section 105.

 

Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company.

   11

            Section 106.

 

Notices to Securityholders; 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.

 

Counterparts.

   12

            Section 114.

 

Judgment Currency.

   12

ARTICLE TWO Security Forms

   13

            Section 201.

 

Forms Generally.

   13

            Section 202.

 

Forms of Securities.

   13

            Section 203.

 

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

   14

            Section 204.

 

Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

   14

ARTICLE THREE The Securities

   16

            Section 301.

 

General Title; General Limitations; Issuable in Series; Terms of Particular Series.

   16

            Section 302.

 

Denominations.

   19

            Section 303.

 

Execution, Authentication and Delivery and Dating.

   19

            Section 304.

 

Temporary Securities.

   20

            Section 305.

 

Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

   21

            Section 306.

 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

   22

            Section 307.

 

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

   22

            Section 308.

 

Persons Deemed Owners.

   24

            Section 309.

 

Cancellation.

   24

            Section 310.

 

Computation of Interest.

   24

            Section 311.

 

Medium-term Securities.

   24

ARTICLE FOUR Satisfaction and Discharge

   25

            Section 401.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

   25

            Section 402.

 

Application of Trust Money.

   26

 

i


            Section 403.

 

Repayment of the Company

   26

            Section 404.

 

Reinstatement

   26

ARTICLE FIVE Remedies

   27

            Section 501.

 

Events of Default.

   27

            Section 502.

 

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

   28

            Section 503.

 

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

   29

            Section 504.

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

   30

            Section 505.

 

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

   31

            Section 506.

 

Application of Money Collected.

   31

            Section 507.

 

Limitation on Suits.

   31

            Section 508.

 

Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

   32

            Section 509.

 

Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

   32

            Section 510.

 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

   32

            Section 511.

 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

   32

            Section 512.

 

Control by Securityholders.

   33

            Section 513.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

   33

            Section 514.

 

Undertaking for Costs.

   33

            Section 515.

 

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

   34

ARTICLE SIX The Trustee

   34

            Section 601.

 

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

   34

            Section 602.

 

Notice of Defaults.

   35

            Section 603.

 

Certain Rights of Trustee.

   35

            Section 604.

 

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

   36

            Section 605.

 

May Hold Securities.

   36

            Section 606.

 

Money Held in Trust.

   36

            Section 607.

 

Compensation and Reimbursement.

   37

            Section 608.

 

Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

   37

            Section 609.

 

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

   37

            Section 610.

 

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

   38

            Section 611.

 

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

   39

            Section 612.

 

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

   40

            Section 613.

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

   40

            Section 614.

 

Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

   43

ARTICLE SEVEN Securityholders’ Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company

   45

            Section 701.

 

Company To Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders.

   45

 

ii


            Section 702.

  

Preservation of Information; Communications to Securityholders.

   45

            Section 703.

  

Reports by Trustee.

   47

            Section 704.

  

Reports by Company.

   48

ARTICLE EIGHT Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

   48

            Section 801.

  

Company May Consolidate, etc., only on Certain Terms.

   48

            Section 802.

  

Successor Corporation Substituted.

   49

ARTICLE NINE Supplemental Indentures

   49

            Section 901.

  

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders.

   49

            Section 902.

  

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.

   50

            Section 903.

  

Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

   51

            Section 904.

  

Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

   51

            Section 905.

  

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

   51

            Section 906.

  

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

   52

ARTICLE TEN Covenants

   52

            Section 1001.

  

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

   52

            Section 1002.

  

Maintenance of Office or Agency.

   52

            Section 1003.

  

Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.

   52

            Section 1004.

  

Statement as to Compliance.

   54

            Section 1005.

  

Corporate Existence.

   54

            Section 1006.

  

Limitation on Liens.

   54

            Section 1007.

  

Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

   55

            Section 1008.

  

Limitation on Transfers of Principal Properties to Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

   55

            Section 1009.

  

Waiver of Certain Covenants.

   55

ARTICLE ELEVEN Redemption of Securities

   55

            Section 1101.

  

Applicability of Article.

   55

            Section 1102.

  

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

   56

            Section 1103.

  

Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

   56

            Section 1104.

  

Notice of Redemption.

   56

            Section 1105.

  

Deposit of Redemption Price.

   57

            Section 1106.

  

Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

   57

            Section 1107.

  

Securities Redeemed in Part.

   58

            Section 1108.

  

Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds.

   58

ARTICLE TWELVE Defeasance; Unclaimed Moneys

   59

            Section 1201.

  

Applicability of Article.

   59

            Section 1202.

  

Defeasance.

   59

 

iii


            Section 1203.

  Conditions of Defeasance.    60

            Section 1204.

  Application of Trust Money.    61

            Section 1205.

  Repayment to Company.    61

            Section 1206.

  Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations.    61

            Section 1207.

  Reinstatement.    61

 

 

iv


THIS SENIOR INDENTURE (the “Indenture”) between PLAINS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”) having its principal office at 700 Milam, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002, and                              , a                              , trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), is made and entered into as of this      day of             ,         .

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, to be issued in one or more fully registered series.

 

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

 

AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

To set forth or to provide for the establishment of the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are and are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of a series thereof, as the case may be:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

Definitions and Other Provisions

of General Application

 

Section 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto, 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 or by Commission rule under 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 generally accepted accounting principles and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America at the date of such computation;

 

(4) all references in this instrument to designated “Articles”, “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other


subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed. 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; and

 

(5) “including” and words of similar import shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation”.

 

Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that Article.

 

Act”, when used with respect to any Security-holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

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

 

Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to authenticate Securities under Section 614.

 

Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of 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” means each day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in the pertinent Place or Places of Payment are authorized or required by law or executive order to be closed.

 

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and partnership and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

 

2


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

 

Company Request”, “Company Order” and “Company Consent” mean, respectively, a written request, order or consent signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President, and by a Vice President, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, Controller, an Assistant Controller, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee in New York, New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at                 ,             ,             ,                          , except that with respect to the presentation of Securities for payment or for registration of transfer and exchange, such term shall mean the office or the agency of the Trustee in said city at which at any particular time its corporate agency business shall be conducted, which office at the date hereof is located at             ,             ,             ,                          .

 

Debt” means indebtedness for money borrowed.

 

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to either Section 204 or Section 301, with respect to Securities of any series issuable or issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation.

 

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

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Funded Debt” of any person means all indebtedness for borrowed money created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed in any manner by such person, and all indebtedness, contingent or otherwise, incurred or assumed by such person in connection with the acquisition of any business, property or asset, which in each case matures more than one year after, or which by its terms is renewable or extendible or payable out of the proceeds of similar indebtedness incurred pursuant to the terms of any revolving credit agreement or any similar agreement at the option of such person for a period ending more than one year after the date as of which Funded Debt is being determined; provided, however, that Funded Debt shall not include (i) any indebtedness for the payment, redemption or satisfaction of which money (or evidences of indebtedness, if permitted under the instrument creating or evidencing such indebtedness) in the necessary amount shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust with a trustee or proper depository either on or before the maturity or redemption date thereof or (ii) any indebtedness of such person to any of its Subsidiaries or of any Subsidiary to such person or any other Subsidiary or

 

3


(iii) any indebtedness incurred in connection with the financing of operating, construction or acquisition projects, provided that the recourse for such indebtedness is limited to the assets of such projects.

 

Global Security” means with respect to any series of Securities issued hereunder, a Security which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and an indenture supplemental hereto, if any, or Board Resolution and pursuant to a Company Request, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due, and interest rate or method of determining interest.

 

Holder”, when used with respect to any Security, means a Securityholder.

 

Indenture” or “this Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

Independent”, when used with respect to any specified Person, means such a Person who (1) is in fact independent, (2) does not have any direct financial interest or any material indirect financial interest in the Company or in any other obligor upon the Securities or in any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, and (3) is not connected with the Company or such other obligor or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, as an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner, director or person performing similar functions. Whenever it is herein provided that any Independent Person’s opinion or certificate shall be furnished to the Trustee, such opinion or certificate shall state that the signer has read this definition and that the signer is Independent within the meaning hereof.

 

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 series of Securities, means the Stated Maturity of any installment of interest on those Securities.

 

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

 

Mortgage” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge or security interest of any kind.

 

4


Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Wherever this Indenture requires that an Officers’ Certificate be signed also by an engineer or an accountant or other expert, such engineer, accountant or other expert (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) may be in the employ of the Company, and shall be acceptable to the Trustee, whose acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Oil and Gas Properties” means all properties, including equity or other ownership interests therein, owned by such Person which contain “proved oil and gas reserves” as defined in Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) be an employee of or of counsel to the Company. Such counsel shall be acceptable to the Trustee, whose acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Original Issue Discount Security” means (i) 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, and (ii) any other Security deemed an Original Issue Discount Security for United States Federal income tax purposes.

 

Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities or Securities of any series, means, as of the date of determination, all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(i) such Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(ii) such Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust 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; and

 

(iii) such Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, or which shall have been paid pursuant to the terms of Section 306 (except with respect to any such Security as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company).

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Securities Outstanding have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (i) the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would

 

5


be due and payable as of the date of the taking of such action upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof and (ii) 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. In determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer assigned to the corporate trust department of the Trustee knows to be owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act as owner 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 such other obligor.

 

Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

Permitted Mortgage” means (i) any Mortgage upon property owned or leased by a corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) any Mortgage upon property existing at the time of the acquisition thereof or to secure payment of any part of the purchase price thereof or any Debt incurred to finance the purchase thereof, (iii) any Mortgage upon property to secure any part of the cost of development, construction, alteration, repair or improvement of such property, or Debt incurred to finance such cost, (iv) any Mortgage securing Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary, (v) any Mortgage existing on the date of the Senior Indenture, and (vi) any extension, renewal or replacement, in whole or in part, of any Mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (v); provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original discount, the aggregate issue price) of Debt secured thereby shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding (plus without duplication, accrued interest, fees and expenses, including any premium and defeasance costs) of Debt so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement and provided, further, that such Mortgage shall be limited to all or such part of the property (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) which secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Mortgage so extended, renewal or replaced.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any Mortgage upon any Principal Property without equally and ratably securing the Senior Debt Securities if the aggregate amount of all Debt then outstanding secured by such Mortgage and all similar Mortgages does not exceed 10% of the total consolidated stockholders’ equity (including preferred stock) of the Company as shown on the audited consolidated balance sheet contained in the latest annual report to stockholders of the Company; provided that Debt secured by Permitted Mortgages shall not be included in the amount of such secured debt.

 

6


Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or other entity.

 

Place of Payment” means with respect to any series of Securities issued hereunder the city or political subdivision so designated with respect to the series of Securities in question in accordance with the provisions of Section 301.

 

Predecessor Securities” 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 lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

 

Principal Property” means any Oil and Gas Properties owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary, unless, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, such Oil and Gas Properties are not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries as an entirety.

 

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 specified in the Security at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date means the date specified in such Security as the Regular Record Date.

 

Repayment Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, means the date fixed for such repayment pursuant to such Security.

 

Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, means the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to such Security.

 

Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means the chairman or vice-chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or vice-chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the president, any vice president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any assistant cashier, any senior trust officer or trust officer, the controller and 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.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which owns or leases (as lessor or lessee) a Principal Property, but does not include any Subsidiary the principal business of which is leasing machinery, equipment, vehicles or other properties none of which is a Principal Property, or financing accounts receivable, or engaging in ownership and development of any property or assets which is not a Principal Property.

 

7


 

Sale-Leaseback Transaction” shall have the meaning specified in Section 1007.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Security” or “Securities” means any note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered from time to time under this Indenture.

 

Security Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 305.

 

Security Registrar” means the Person who keeps the Security Register specified in Section 305.

 

Securityholder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest (as defined in Section 307) 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” of any Person means any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership and joint venture interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person, (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Successor Company” has the meaning specified in Section 801.

 

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed except as provided in Section 905.

 

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 and include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder. 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.

 

8


 

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America 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 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, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

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”, including, without limitation, an assistant 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 an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such Counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for the written statement required by 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.

 

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

 

9


certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to the 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 Securityholders.

 

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Securityholders or Securityholders of any series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. If any Securities are denominated in coin or currency other than that of the United States, then for the purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have taken any action as herein described, the principal amount of such Securities shall be deemed to be that amount of United States dollars that could be obtained for such principal amount on the basis of the spot rate of exchange into United States dollars for the currency in which such Securities are denominated (as evidenced to the Trustee by an Officers’ Certificate) as of the date the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal amount is evidenced to the Trustee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Securityholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness to such execution or by the certificate of any 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 an officer of a corporation or a member of a partnership, on behalf of such corporation or partnership, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute

 

10


sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Securities Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Securities Outstanding shall be computed as of the record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

 

(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind the Holder of every Security issued upon the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of anything done 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.

 

Section 105. Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Securityholders 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 Securityholder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, or

 

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Securityholder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (except as provided in Section 501(4) or, in the case of a request for repayment, as specified in the Security carrying the right to repayment) 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 or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

Section 106. Notices to Securityholders; Waiver. Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice to Securityholders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein or in such Security expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the

 

11


Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Securityholders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Securityholder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Securityholders. Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Securityholders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a result of a strike, work stoppage or otherwise, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to any Securityholder when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any method of notification as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.

 

Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through the operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.

 

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 any Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, any Authenticating Agent or Paying Agent, the Security Registrar and the Holders of Securities (or such of them as may be affected thereby), any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 112. Governing Law. This Indenture shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

Section 113. Counterparts. 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.

 

Section 114. Judgment Currency. The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, or premium or interest,

 

12


if any, on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day (as defined below) preceding that on which final unappealable judgment is given and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in the City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

Security Forms

 

Section 201. Forms Generally. The Securities shall have 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 applicable laws or regulations or with the rules of any securities exchange, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.

 

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods 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, subject, with respect to the Securities of any series, to the rules of any securities exchange on which such Securities are listed.

 

Section 202. Forms of Securities. Each Security shall be in one of the forms approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the delivery of a Security to the Trustee for authentication in any form approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee the Board Resolution by or pursuant to which such form of Security has been approved, which Board Resolution shall have attached thereto a true and correct copy of the form of Security which has been approved thereby or, if a Board Resolution authorizes a specific officer or officers to approve a form of Security, a certificate of such officer or officers approving the form of Security attached thereto. Any form of Security approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution must be acceptable as to form to the Trustee, such acceptance to be evidenced by the Trustee’s authentication of Securities in that form or a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and delivered to the Company.

 

13


Section 203. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for any Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

 

                                                             ,

as Trustee,

By:

 

 


   

Authorized Signatory

 

Section 204. Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

 

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 202 and Section 301 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 303 and the Company Request delivered to the Trustee or its agent thereunder, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in a Company Request, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

 

“UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR

 

14


TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.”

 

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 204 or of Section 305, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for individual Securities, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 305, only to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or to the Depositary, or a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

(c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities for such series ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company will execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Request for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver, individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security.

 

(ii) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Request for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security or Securities representing such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

 

(iii) If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 202 and Section 301 with respect to Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, (1) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in

 

15


exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and (2) to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities delivered to the Holders thereof.

 

(iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver individual Securities in definitive registered form in authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Security Registrar. The Trustee or the Security Registrar shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

The Securities

 

Section 301. General Title; General Limitations; Issuable in Series; Terms of Particular Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered and Outstanding under this Indenture is not limited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to an aggregate principal amount of Securities as from time to time may be authorized by the Board of Directors. All Securities of each series under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof with respect to such series without preference, priority or distinction on account of the actual time of the authentication and delivery or Stated Maturity of the Securities of such series.

 

Each series of Securities shall be created either by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by or pursuant to an indenture supplemental hereto. The Securities of each such series may bear such date or dates, be payable at such place or places, have such Stated Maturity or Maturities, be issuable at such premium over or discount from their face value, bear interest at such rate or rates (which may be fixed or floating), from such date or dates, payable in such installments and on such dates and at such place or places to the Holders of Securities registered as such on such Regular Record Dates, or may bear no interest, and may be redeemable or repayable at such Redemption Price or Prices or Repayment Price or Prices, as the case may be, whether at the option of the Holder or otherwise, and upon such terms, all as shall be provided for in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture creating that series. There may also be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture prior to the issuance of Securities of each such series, provision for:

 

(1) the exchange or conversion of the Securities of that series, at the option of the Holders thereof, for or into new Securities of a different series or other

 

16


securities or other property, including shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares;

 

(2) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;

 

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

 

(4) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies (including European Currency Units) in which the Securities of such series shall be denominated and in which payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, such Securities shall or may be payable;

 

(5) if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a holder thereof, in a currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies (including European Currency Units) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

 

(6) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series may be determined with reference to an index based on (i) a currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies (including European Currency Units) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, (ii) changes in the price of one or more other securities or groups or indexes of securities or (iii) changes in the prices of one or more commodities or groups or indexes of commodities, or any combination of the foregoing, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(7) if the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series is to be limited, such limitations;

 

(8) the exchange of Securities of that series, at the option of the Holders thereof, for other Securities of the same series of the same aggregate principal amount of a different authorized kind or different authorized denomination or denominations, or both;

 

(9) the appointment by the Trustee of an Authenticating Agent in one or more places other than the location of the office of the Trustee with power to act on behalf of the Trustee and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of the Securities of any one or more series in connection with such transactions as shall be specified in the provisions of this Indenture or in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or the supplemental indenture creating such series;

 

17


(10) the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series, if other than the total principal amount thereof, which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504;

 

(11) any Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series, if not set forth herein and any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default set forth herein that shall be applicable to the Securities of such series (including a provision making any Event of Default set forth herein inapplicable to the Securities of that series);

 

(12) any covenant solely for the benefit of the Securities of such series and any additions, deletions or other changes to the provisions of Article Ten or any definitions relating to such Article that shall be applicable to the Securities of such series (including a provision making any Section of such Article inapplicable to the Securities of such series);

 

(13) the applicability of Section 403 of this Indenture to the Securities of such series;

 

(14) if the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Global Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities (if other than the Depositary specified in Section 101 hereof); and

 

(15) any other terms of the series, which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

all upon such terms as may be determined in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture with respect to such series. All Securities of the same series shall be substantially identical in tenor and effect, except as to denomination.

 

The form of the Securities of each series shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture creating such series. The Securities of each series shall be distinguished from the Securities of each other series in such manner, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, as the Board of Directors may determine.

 

Unless otherwise provided with respect to Securities of a particular series, the Securities of any series may only be issuable in registered form, without coupons.

 

Any terms or provisions in respect of the Securities of any series issued under this Indenture may be determined pursuant to this Section by providing in a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture for the method by which such terms or provisions shall be determined.

 

18


Section 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations and currency as shall be provided in the provisions of this Indenture or in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or the supplemental indenture creating such series. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of that series shall be issuable only in fully registered form in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 303. Execution, Authentication and Delivery and Dating. The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President, one of its Vice Presidents or its Treasurer under its corporate seal reproduced thereon and 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 executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication; and the Trustee shall, upon Company Order, authenticate and deliver such Securities as in this Indenture provided and not otherwise.

 

Prior to any such authentication and delivery, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to any Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 102, and the Board Resolution and any certificate relating to the issuance of the series of Securities required to be furnished pursuant to Section 202, an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

 

(1) all instruments furnished to the Trustee conform to the requirements of the Indenture and constitute sufficient authority hereunder for the Trustee to authenticate and deliver such Securities;

 

(2) the form and terms (or in connection with the issuance of medium-term Securities under Section 311, the manner of determining the terms) of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(3) all laws and requirements with respect to the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities have been complied with, the Company has the corporate power to issue such Securities and such Securities have been duly authorized and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authentication and delivery by the Trustee, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws and legal principles affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity) and entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, equally and ratably with all other Securities, if any, of such series Outstanding; and

 

19


(4) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request;

 

and, if the authentication and delivery relates to a new series of Securities created by an indenture supplemental hereto, also stating that all laws and requirements with respect to the form and execution by the Company of the supplemental indenture with respect to that series of Securities have been complied with, the Company has corporate power to execute and deliver any such supplemental indenture and has taken all necessary corporate action for those purposes and any such supplemental indenture has been executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws and legal principles affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity).

 

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue thereof will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Security for any series, all Securities shall be dated the date of their 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 of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 304. Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and, upon receipt of the documents required by Section 303, together with a 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 such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, 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, without charge to the Holder; and upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of such series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of such series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

20


Section 305. Registration, Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register (herein sometimes 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, or of Securities of a particular series, and for transfers of Securities or of Securities of such series.

 

Any such register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times the information contained in such register or registers shall be available for inspection by the Trustee at the office or agency to be maintained by the Company as provided in Section 1002.

 

Subject to Section 204, upon surrender for transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, 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 such series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity and of like tenor and terms.

 

Subject to Section 204, at the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of such series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity and of like tenor and terms, 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 which the Securityholder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any 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 transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Security to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge shall be made on any Securityholder for any transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may (unless otherwise provided in such Security) require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, Section 906 or Section 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, transfer or exchange any Security of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the date of such mailing, or (ii) to transfer or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except for the portion of such Security not so selected for redemption.

 

21


None of the Company, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Security Registrar for the Securities on its behalf. The Company may at any time and from time to time authorize any Person to act as Security Registrar in place of the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, or the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and (ii) there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor, series, Stated Maturity and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.

 

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

 

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

 

Every new Security 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 the same 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. Unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 301, 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.

 

22


Any interest on any Security 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 registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of his having been such Holder; and, except as hereinafter provided, such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or Clause (2) below:

 

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names any such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of each such Security at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest 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.

 

If any installment of interest the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Security called for redemption pursuant to Article Eleven is not paid or duly provided for on or prior to the Redemption Date in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section, such interest shall be payable as part of the Redemption Price of such Securities.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon 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.

 

23


Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any), and (subject to Section 307) interest on, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Section 309. Cancellation. All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer, conversion or exchange or credit against a sinking fund shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not already canceled, shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Security shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) dispose of all canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures and shall deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company.

 

Section 310. Computation of Interest. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated in Section 301, interest on the Securities shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 311. Medium-term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, Board Resolution, supplemental indenture, Opinion of Counsel or Company Request otherwise required pursuant to Section 202, Section 301 and Section 303 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued; provided that any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 102 shall be true and correct as if made on such date.

 

An Officers’ Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph may provide that Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of persons designated in such Officers’ Certificate, Board Resolution or supplemental indenture (any such telephonic instructions to be confirmed promptly in writing by such persons) and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, such terms and conditions of said Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution.

 

24


ARTICLE FOUR

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities (except as to any surviving rights of conversion, transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or in the form of Security for such series and the Company’s rights of optional redemption expressly provided for herein or in the form of Securities for such series), and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

 

(1) either

 

(A) all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Securities of such series 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 canceled or for cancellation; or

 

(B) all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee canceled or 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 for the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee canceled or for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

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

 

25


Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the Company’s obligations in Section 305, Section 306, Section 307, Section 308, Section 309, Section 310, Section 402, Section 403, Section 508, Section 607, Section 610, Section 1002, and Section 1003, and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 1003 shall survive until the Notes are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the Company’s obligations in Section 403, Section 607 and Section 1003 and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 1003 shall survive.

 

In order to have money available on a payment date to pay principal (and premium, if any, on) or interest on the Notes, the U.S. Government Obligations shall be payable as to principal (and premium, if any) or interest at least one Business Day before such payment date in such amounts as will provide the necessary money.

 

Section 402. Application of Trust Money. All money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of such obligations shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the series of Securities in respect of which it was deposited and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money and obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee; but such money and obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 403. Repayment of the Company.

 

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon written request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

 

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due; provided that the Company shall have either caused notice of such payment to be mailed to each Holder of the Securities entitled thereto no less than 30 days prior to such repayment or within such period shall have published such notice in a financial newspaper of widespread circulation published in The City of New York, including, without limitation, The Wall Street Journal (national edition). After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

 

Section 404. Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 401 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court of governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities

 

26


shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit has occurred pursuant to Section 401 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 402; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities because of the reinstatement of their Obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

Remedies

 

Section 501. Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein, means with respect to any series of Securities 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), unless such event is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the supplemental indenture creating such series of Securities or in the form of Security for such series:

 

(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 premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(3) default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of such series; or

 

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture in respect of the Securities of such series (other than a covenant or warranty in respect of the Securities of such series a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), all of such covenants and warranties in the Indenture which are not expressly stated to be for the benefit of a particular series of Securities being deemed in respect of the Securities of all series for this purpose, 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 such 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 entry of an order for relief against the Company under the Federal Bankruptcy Code by a court having jurisdiction in the premises or a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company a bankrupt or

 

27


insolvent under any other applicable Federal or State law, or the entry of a decree or order approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(6) the consent by the Company to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a 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

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such series.

 

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) (if the Event of Default under paragraph (4) or (7) is with respect to less than all series of Securities then Outstanding) of Section 501 occurs and is continuing with respect to any series, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series acting as a separate class), by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Securities of such series then Outstanding and all accrued interest thereon to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in paragraph (4) or (7) (if the Event of Default under paragraph (4) or (7) is with respect to all series of Securities then Outstanding), (5) or (6) of Section 501 occurs and is continuing, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities then Outstanding hereunder (treated as one class), by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the Securities then Outstanding and all accrued interest thereon to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

28


At any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to the Securities of any series 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 such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

(A) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all overdue installments of interest on the Securities of such series,

 

 

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

 

(C) interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor by the terms of the Securities of such series to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, 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 all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607; and

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to such series of Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Securities of such series which have become due solely by such 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 installment of interest on any Security of any series when such interest becomes due and payable, or

 

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

 

(3) default is made in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of any series,

 

and any such default continues for any period of grace provided with respect to the Securities of such series, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holder of any such Security (or the Holders of any such series in the case of Clause (3) above), the whole amount then due and payable on any such Security (or on the Securities of any such

 

29


series in the case of Clause (3) above) for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, with interest, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and upon overdue installments of interest, at such rate or rates as may be prescribed therefor by the terms of any such Security (or of Securities of any such series in the case of Clause (3) above); 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 and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

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, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series and collect the money 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 any series of Securities occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement 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 the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

 

(1) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary and advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607) and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(2) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payment to the Trustee and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to 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.

 

30


Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan or 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 Securityholder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities of any series may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities of such series 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 agent and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities of the series in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities 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 premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of such series 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;

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities of that series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD: To the Company or to such other party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

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 Securities of such series;

 

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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;

 

31


(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 such series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders of Securities of such series 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 Holders of Securities of such series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and proportionate benefit of all the Holders of all Securities of such series.

 

Section 508. Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Securityholder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Securityholders 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 Security 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 Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders, as the case may be.

 

32


Section 512. Control by Securityholders. 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) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would conflict with this Indenture or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer, determine that the proceedings so directed would involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction, 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 not theretofore cured

 

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation with respect to the Securities 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.

 

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. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series to which the suit relates, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date).

 

33


Section 515. Waiver of 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 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 SIX

 

The Trustee

 

Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities,

 

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(b) In case an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(1) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

 

34


(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(4) 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.

 

(d) 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. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment or analogous obligation with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series; and provided, further, 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 Securityholders of such series shall be given until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default”, with respect to Securities of any series, 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. Except as otherwise provided in Section 601:

 

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

 

35


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

 

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

 

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

 

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Securityholders 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;

 

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture 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; and

 

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

 

Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 605. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Paying Agent, the 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, 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.

 

36


Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees

 

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

 

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

 

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, 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.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities.

 

Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. The Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act during the period of time provided for therein. In determining whether the Trustee has a conflicting interest as defined in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series, there shall be excluded for purposes of the conflicting interest provisions of such Section 310(b) the Securities of every other series issued under this Indenture (i) securities issued under the Indenture dated as of July 3, 2002, among Plains Exploration & Production Company, L.P., Plains E&P Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee, and (ii) every series of securities issued under the Indenture dated as of                      ,         , between Plains Exploration & Production Company and                                     , as Trustee. Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the Commission the application referred to in the second to last paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Securities, which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or

 

37


to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 611.

 

(b) The Trustee may resign with respect to any series of Securities at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee 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.

 

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

 

(d) If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act pursuant to Section 608(a) with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least 6 months, or

 

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 with respect to any series of Securities and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or

 

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or

 

(4) the Trustee shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee, with respect to the series, or in the case of Clause (4), with respect to all series, or (ii) subject to Section 514, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the series, or, in the case of Clause (4), with respect to all series.

 

38


(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities for any cause, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee for that series of Securities. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapacity, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to such series of Securities 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, become the successor Trustee with respect to such series and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company with respect to such series. If no successor Trustee with respect to such series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Securityholders of such series and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least 6 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 such series.

 

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Securities of that series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its principal Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become effective with respect to any series as to which it is resigning or being removed as Trustee, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to any such series; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such predecessor Trustee shall, upon payment of its reasonable charges, if any, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the predecessor Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such predecessor Trustee hereunder with respect to all or any such series, subject nevertheless to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 607. 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.

 

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 predecessor Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not being succeeded shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the

 

39


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.

 

No successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible with respect to that series 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 of 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.

 

(a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this Section, if the Trustee shall be or shall become a creditor, directly or indirectly, secured or unsecured, of the Company within 3 months prior to a default, as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section, or subsequent to such a default, then, unless and until such default shall be cured, the Trustee shall set apart and hold in a special account for the benefit of the Trustee individually, the Holders of the Securities and the holders of other indenture securities (as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section):

 

(1) an amount equal to any and all reductions in the amount due and owing upon any claim as such creditor in respect of principal or interest, effected after the beginning of such 3-month period and valid as against the Company and its other creditors, except any such reduction resulting from the receipt or disposition of any property described in paragraph (2) of this Subsection, or from the exercise of any right of set-off which the Trustee could have exercised if a petition in bankruptcy had been filed by or against the Company upon the date of such default; and

 

(2) all property received by the Trustee in respect of any claim as such creditor, either as security therefor, or in satisfaction or composition thereof, or otherwise, after the beginning of such 3-month period, or an amount equal to the proceeds of any such property, if disposed of, subject, however, to the rights, if any, of the Company and its other creditors in such property or such proceeds.

 

Nothing herein contained, however, shall affect the right of the Trustee

 

(A) to retain for its own account (i) payments made on account of any such claim by any Person (other than the Company) who is liable thereon,

 

40


and (ii) the proceeds of the bona fide sale of any such claim by the Trustee to a third person, and (iii) distributions made in cash, securities or other property in respect of claims filed against the Company in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law;

 

(B) to realize, for its own account, upon any property held by it as security for any such claim, if such property was so held prior to the beginning of such 3-month period;

 

(C) to realize, for its own account, but only to the extent of the claim hereinafter mentioned, upon any property held by it as security for any such claim, if such claim was created after the beginning of such 3-month period and such property was received as security therefor simultaneously with the creation thereof, and if the Trustee shall sustain the burden of proving that at the time such property was so received the Trustee had no reasonable cause to believe that a default as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section would occur within 3 months; or

 

(D) to receive payment on any claim referred to in paragraph (B) or (C), against the release of any property held as security for such claim as provided in paragraph (B) or (C), as the case may be, to the extent of the fair value of such property.

 

For the purposes of paragraphs (B), (C) and (D), property substituted after the beginning of such 3-month period for property held as security at the time of such substitution shall, to the extent of the fair value of the property released, have the same status as the property released, and, to the extent that any claim referred to in any of such paragraphs is created in renewal of or in substitution for or for the purpose of repaying or refunding any pre-existing claim of the Trustee as such creditor, such claim shall have the same status as such pre-existing claim.

 

If the Trustee shall be required to account, the funds and property held in such special account and the proceeds thereof shall be apportioned between the Trustee, the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities in such manner that the Trustee, the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities realize, as a result of payments from such special account and payments of dividends on claims filed against the Company in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law, the same percentage of their respective claims, figured before crediting to the claim of the Trustee anything on account of the receipt by it from the Company of the funds and property in such special account and before crediting to the respective claims of the Trustee and the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities dividends on claims filed against the Company in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law, but after crediting thereon receipts on account of the indebtedness represented by their respective claims from all sources other than from such dividends and from the funds and property so held in such special account. As used in this paragraph, with respect to any claim, the term “dividends” shall include any distribution with respect to such claim, in bankruptcy or receivership or proceedings for reorganization pursuant to

 

41


the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law, whether such distribution is made in cash, securities, or other property, but shall not include any such distribution with respect to the secured portion, if any, of such claim. The court in which such bankruptcy, receivership or proceedings for reorganization is pending shall have jurisdiction (i) to apportion between the Trustee and the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, the funds and property held in such special account and proceeds thereof, or (ii) in lieu of such apportionment, in whole or in part, to give to the provisions of this paragraph due consideration in determining the fairness of the distributions to be made to the Trustee and the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities with respect to their respective claims, in which event it shall not be necessary to liquidate or to appraise the value of any securities or other property held in such special account or as security for any such claim, or to make a specific allocation of such distributions as between the secured and unsecured portions of such claims, or otherwise to apply the provisions of this paragraph as a mathematical formula.

 

Any Trustee which has resigned or been removed after the beginning of such 3-month period shall be subject to the provisions of this Subsection as though such resignation or removal had not occurred. If any Trustee has resigned or been removed prior to the beginning of such 3-month period, it shall be subject to the provisions of this Subsection if and only if the following conditions exist:

 

(i) the receipt of property or reduction of claim, which would have given rise to the obligation to account, if such Trustee had continued as Trustee, occurred after the beginning of such 3-month period; and

 

(ii) such receipt of property or reduction of claim occurred within 3 months after such resignation or removal.

 

(b) There shall be excluded from the operation of Subsection (a) of this Section a creditor relationship arising from the ownership or acquisition of securities issued under any indenture, or any security or securities having a maturity of one year or more at the time of acquisition by the Trustee;

 

(A) advances authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction, or by this Indenture, for the purpose of preserving any property which shall at any time be subject to the lien of this Indenture or of discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances thereon, if notice of such advances and of the circumstances surrounding the making thereof is given to the Securityholders at the time and in the manner provided in this Indenture;

 

(B) disbursements made in the ordinary course of business in the capacity of trustee under an indenture, transfer agent, registrar, custodian, paying agent, fiscal agent or depositary, or other similar capacity;

 

42


(C) an indebtedness created as a result of services rendered or premises rented; or an indebtedness created as a result of goods or securities sold in a cash transaction as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section;

 

(D) the ownership of stock or of other securities of a corporation organized under the provisions of Section 25(a) of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, which is directly or indirectly a creditor of the Company; or

 

(E) the acquisition, ownership, acceptance or negotiation of any drafts, bills of exchange, acceptances or obligations which fall within the classification of self liquidating paper as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section.

 

(2) For the purposes of this Section only:

 

(A) The term “default” means any failure to make payment in full of the principal of or interest on any of the Securities or upon the other indenture securities when and as such principal or interest becomes due and payable.

 

(B) The term “other indenture securities” means securities upon which the Company is an obligor outstanding under any other indenture (i) under which the Trustee is also trustee, (ii) which contains provisions substantially similar to the provisions of this Section, and (iii) under which a default exists at the time of the apportionment of the funds and property held in such special account.

 

(C) The term “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within 7 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.

 

(D) The term “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, 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.

 

(E) The term “Company” means any obligor upon the Securities.

 

Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding the Trustee, with the approval of the Company, may appoint an

 

43


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 exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall 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 an Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and, if other than the Company itself, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and, if other than the Company, 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, if other than the Company, 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, with the approval of the Company, may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent (other than an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company 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.

 

44


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

 

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

 

                                                             ,

as Trustee

By:

 

 


   

As Authenticating Agent

By:

 

 


   

Authorized Signatory

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

Securityholders’ Lists and Reports by

Trustee and Company

 

Section 701. Company To Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(a) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date, in each year in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, a list of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such date, and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished,

 

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 Securityholders.

 

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

 

(b) If 3 or more Holders of Securities of any series (hereinafter referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that

 

45


each such applicant has owned a Security of such series for a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders of Securities of such series or with the Holders of all Securities with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either

 

(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), or

 

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders of Securities of such series or all Securities, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder of a Security of such series or to all Securityholders, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless, within 5 days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or all Securityholders, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all Securityholders of such series or all Securityholders, as the case may be, with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 702(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 702(b).

 

46


Section 703. Reports by Trustee.

 

(a) The term “reporting date” as used in this Section means May 15. Within 60 days after the reporting date in each year, beginning in May 15, 2005, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, a brief report dated as of such reporting date with respect to any of the following events which may have occurred during the 12 months preceding the date of such report (but if no such event has occurred within such period no report need be transmitted):

 

(1) any change to its eligibility under Section 609 and its qualifications under Section 608;

 

(2) the creation of or any material change to a relationship specified in Section 310(b)(1) through Section 310(b)(10) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(3) the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) which remain unpaid on the date of such report, and for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of Securities of any series, on any property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances if such advances so remaining unpaid aggregate not more than 1/2 of 1% of the principal amount of the Securities of such series outstanding on the date of such report;

 

(4) any change to the amount, interest rate and maturity date of all other indebtedness owing by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities) to the Trustee in its individual capacity, on the date of such report, with a brief description of any property held as collateral security therefor, except an indebtedness based upon a creditor relationship arising in a manner described in Section 613(b)(2), (3), (4) or (6);

 

(5) any change to the property and funds, if any, physically in the possession of the Trustee as such on the date of such report;

 

(6) any additional issue of Securities which the Trustee has not previously reported; and

 

(7) any action taken by the Trustee in the performance of its duties hereunder which it has not previously reported and which in its opinion materially affects the Securities, except action in respect of a default, notice of which has been or is to be withheld by the Trustee in accordance with Section 602.

 

(b) The Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, a brief report with respect to the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) since the date of the last report transmitted pursuant to Subsection (a) of this Section (or if no such report has yet been so transmitted, since the date of execution of this instrument) for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities of any series, on property or funds held or collected

 

47


by it as Trustee, and which it has not previously reported pursuant to this Subsection, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances if such advances remaining unpaid at any time aggregate 10% or less of the principal amount of the Securities Outstanding of such series at such time, such report to be transmitted within 90 days after such time.

 

(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which the Securities are listed, and also with the Commission. The Company will notify the Trustee when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 704. Reports by Company. The Company will

 

(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(3) transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

 

Section 801. Company May Consolidate, etc., only on Certain Terms. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:

 

(1) the corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company (“Successor Company”) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is

 

48


merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State 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 premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance 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, 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 or transfer and 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 Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the Successor Company formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein. In the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company as the predecessor corporation may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated at any time thereafter.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

Supplemental Indentures

 

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders. Without the consent of the Holders of any Securities, 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 of the Company herein and in the Securities contained; or

 

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

 

49


(3) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture or to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder of the Securities; or

 

(4) to add to this Indenture such provisions as may be expressly permitted by the TIA, excluding, however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA as in effect at the date as of which this instrument was executed or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted; or

 

(5) to establish any form of Security, as provided in Article Two, and to provide for the issuance of any series of Securities as provided in Article Three and to set forth the terms thereof, and/or to add to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of any series; or

 

(6) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another corporation as a successor Trustee hereunder with respect to one or more series of Securities 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 Section 611; or

 

(7) to add any additional Events of Default in respect of the Securities of any or all series (and if such additional Events of Default are to be in respect of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of one or more specified series); or

 

(8) to provide for the issuance of Securities in coupon as well as fully registered form.

 

No supplemental indenture for the purposes identified in Clauses (2), (3), (5) or (7) above may be entered into if to do so would adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of any series.

 

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures, 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 the Securities of each 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 Maturity of the principal of, or the Stated Maturity of any premium on, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest or any premium thereon, or change the method of computing the amount of principal thereof or interest thereon on any date or change any

 

50


Place of Payment where, or 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 Maturity or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be); 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;

 

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 513, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; or

 

(4) subordinate in right of payment the Securities to any other Debt.

 

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 Securityholders 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 (except to the extent required in the case of a supplemental indenture entered into under Section 901(4) or 901(6)) be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby to the extent provided therein.

 

Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the TIA as then in effect.

 

51


Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities 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 so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, 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.

 

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Secured Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

Covenants

 

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities in accordance with their terms and this Indenture, and will duly comply with all the other terms, agreements and conditions contained in, or made in the Indenture for the benefit of, the Securities of such series.

 

Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and of any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

Section 1003. Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent for any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on, any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on, any Securities of such series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal (and premium, if any) 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.

 

52


The Company will cause each Paying Agent other than the Trustee for any series of Securities to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will

 

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any such payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of such series; and

 

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities 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 in respect of each and every series of Securities as to which it seeks to discharge this Indenture or, if for any other purpose, all sums so held in trust by the Company in respect of all Securities, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease. The Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company mail to the Holders of the Securities as to which the money to be repaid was held in trust, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, a notice that such moneys remain unclaimed and that, after a date specified in the notice, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date on which the notice was first mailed to the Holders of the Securities as to which the money to be repaid was held in trust, any unclaimed balance of such moneys then remaining will be paid to the Company free of the trust formerly impressed upon it.

 

The Company initially authorizes the Trustee to act as Paying Agent for the Securities on its behalf. The Company may at any time and from time to time authorize one or more Persons to act as Paying Agent in addition to or in place of the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

53


Section 1004. Statement as to Compliance. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company, stating that

 

(1) a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of the Company’s performance under this Indenture and under the terms of the Securities has been made under his supervision; and

 

(2) to the best of his knowledge, based on such review, the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture through such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to him and the nature and status thereof.

 

Section 1005. Corporate 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 corporate existence.

 

Section 1006. Limitation on Liens. The Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or suffer to exist (i) any Mortgage upon any stock or indebtedness of any Subsidiary which owns or leases a Principal Property, whether owned on the date of this Indenture or hereafter acquired, to secure any Debt of the Company or any other Person (other than the Securities), and (ii) any Mortgage upon any Principal Property, whether owned or leased on the date of this Indenture, or thereafter acquired, to secure any Debt of the Company or any other Person (other than the Securities) without in any such case making effective provision whereby all of the Securities Outstanding shall be directly secured equally and ratably with such Debt for so long as such Debt shall be secured, excluding, however, from the operation of the foregoing provisions of this Section 1006 any Mortgage upon stock or indebtedness of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, or existing upon stock or indebtedness of a Subsidiary at the time of acquisition of such stock or indebtedness, and any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part of any such Mortgage; provided, however, that the principal amount of Debt secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of Debt so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement; and provided further, that such Mortgage shall be limited to all or such part of the stock or indebtedness which secured the Mortgage so extended, renewed or replaced.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or suffer to exist (i) any Permitted Mortgages and (ii) any Mortgage upon any Principal Property without equally and ratably securing the Securities if the aggregate amount of all Debt then outstanding secured by such Mortgage and all similar Mortgages does not exceed 10% of the total consolidated stockholders’ equity (including preferred stock) of the Company as shown on the audited consolidated balance sheet contained in the latest annual report to stockholders of the Company; provided that Debt secured by Permitted Mortgages shall not be included in the amount of such secured Debt.

 

54


Section 1007. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Company will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as lessee of any Principal Property (except for temporary leases for a term, including renewals, of not more than three years), which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to such person (herein referred to as a “Sale-Leaseback Transaction”), unless (i) such Sale-Leaseback Transaction occurs within 180 days from the date of acquisition of such Principal Property or the date of the completion of construction or commencement of full operations on such Principal Property, whichever is later, or (ii) the Company, within 180 days after such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, applies or causes to be applied to the retirement of Funded Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than Funded Debt of the Company which by its terms or the terms of the instrument pursuant to which it was issued is subordinate in right of payment to the Securities) an amount not less than the net proceeds of the sale of such Principal Property. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Company may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, effect any Sale-Leaseback Transaction involving any Principal Property, provided that the net sale proceeds from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, together with all Debt secured by Mortgages other than Permitted Mortgages, does not exceed 10% of the total consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Company as shown on the audited consolidated balance sheet contained in the latest annual report to stockholders of the Company.

 

Section 1008. Limitation on Transfers of Principal Properties to Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Principal Property to any Subsidiary which is not a Restricted Subsidiary other than for cash or other consideration which, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, constitutes fair value for such Principal Property.

 

Section 1009. Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company may omit in respect of any series of Securities, in any particular instance, to comply with any covenant or condition set forth in Sections 1006 through 1008, if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of such series shall, by Act of such Securityholders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant 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 covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

Redemption of Securities

 

Section 1101. Applicability of Article. The Company may reserve the right to redeem and pay before Stated Maturity all or any part of the Securities of any series, either by optional redemption, sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation or otherwise, by provision therefor in the form of Security for such series established and approved pursuant to Section 202 and on such terms as are specified in such form or in the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 301. Redemption of Securities of any series shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and, to the extent that this Article does not conflict with such terms, the succeeding Sections of this Article.

 

55


Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities redeemable at the election of the Company shall be evidenced by, or made pursuant to authority granted by, a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of any Securities of any series, 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 and of the principal amount of Securities of such series 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 like tenor and terms of any series 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 not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may include provision for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a particular series of Securities, the portions of the principal of Securities so selected for partial redemption shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination of the Securities of such series, or an integral multiple thereof, and the principal amount which remains outstanding shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series. If less than all the Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1104. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.

 

56


All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the Redemption Price;

 

(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the Securities to be redeemed, from the Holder to whom the notice is given;

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security, and that unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest, if any, thereon shall cease to accrue from and after said date;

 

(5) the place where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, which shall be the office or agency of the Company in the Place of Payment; and

 

(6) that the redemption is on account of a sinking or purchase fund, or other analogous obligation, if that be the case.

 

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

 

Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of 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) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of such Securities for redemption in accordance with the notice, such Securities shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price. Installments of interest the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities registered as such on the relevant Regular 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 shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Security, or as otherwise provided in such Security.

 

57


Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company in the Place of Payment with respect to that series (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 Stated Maturity and of like tenor and terms, 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.

 

Section 1108. Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds. Unless the form or terms of any series of Securities shall provide otherwise, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to such series of Securities in cash, the Company may at its option (1) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities of such series theretofore acquired by the Company, or (2) receive credit for any Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or redeemed by the Company other than through the mandatory sinking fund, and if it does so then (i) Securities so delivered or credited shall be credited at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, and (ii) on or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to such series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee (A) an Officers’ Certificate specifying the portions of such sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of cash and by delivery or credit of Securities of such series acquired by the Company or so redeemed, and (B) such Securities so acquired, to the extent not previously surrendered. Such Officers’ Certificate shall also state the basis for such credit and that the Securities for which the Company elects to receive credit have not been previously so credited and were not redeemed by the Company through operation of the mandatory sinking fund, if any, provided with respect to such Securities and shall also state that no Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing. All Securities so delivered to the Trustee shall be canceled by the Trustee and no Securities shall be authenticated in lieu thereof.

 

If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) with respect to any series of Securities made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments with respect to Securities of such series made in cash shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request), unless otherwise provided by the terms of such series of Securities, that cash shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to Securities of such series next following the date of such payment to the redemption of Securities of such series at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, with the effect provided in Section 1106. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 1103, for redemption on such sinking fund Redemption Date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to utilize that cash and shall thereupon cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series for the sinking fund to be given in the manner provided in Section 1104 (and with the effect provided in Section 1106) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next

 

58


cash sinking fund payment with respect to Securities of such series received by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1108. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to Securities of any series held by the Trustee at the Maturity of Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.

 

On or before each sinking fund Redemption Date provided with respect to Securities of any series, the Company shall pay to the Trustee in cash a sum equal to all accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund Redemption Date pursuant to this Section 1108.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

Defeasance; Unclaimed Moneys

 

Section 1201. Applicability of Article. If, pursuant to Section 301, provision is made for the defeasance of Securities of a series and if the Securities of such series are denominated and payable only in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 301), then the provisions of this Article Twelve relating to defeasance of Securities shall be applicable except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for Securities of such series. Defeasance provisions, if any, for Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency may be specified pursuant to Section 301.

 

Section 1202. Defeasance.

 

(a) Subject to Section 1202(b), Section 1203 and Section 1207, the Company at any time may terminate, with respect to Securities of a particular series, (i) all its obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series (“legal defeasance option”) or (ii) its obligations with respect to the Securities of such series under Section 1006, Section 1007, and Section 1008 (“covenant defeasance option”). The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

 

If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the exercise of the legal defeasance option in clause (b) above, the Company’s obligations in Section 305, Section 306, Section 1002, Section 701, Section 607, Section 608, Section 1205, Section 1206 and Section 1207 shall survive until the Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Section 607, Section 1205 and Section 1206 shall survive.

 

59


Section 1203. Conditions of Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Securities of a particular series only if:

 

(1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(3) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Section 501(5) or (Section 501(6) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

 

(4) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

 

(5) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Company;

 

(6) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

(7) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) 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 of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;

 

(8) in the event of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

 

60


(9) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article Twelve have been complied with.

 

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article Twelve.

 

Section 1204. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article Twelve. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the defeased series.

 

Section 1205. Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

 

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such money shall thereupon cease.

 

Section 1206. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustees and the Holders against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

 

Section 1207. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article Twelve by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Twelve until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article Twelve.

 

61


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

PLAINS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY

By

 

 


   

Name:

   

Title:

                                                                                   , as Trustee

By

 

 


   

Name:

   

Title:


___________

  )     
    )    ss:

___________

  )     

 

On the              day of             ,          before me personally came, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at                     ; that he is                      of Plains Exploration & Production Company, one of the parties described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to that instrument is such corporate seal; that it was affixed by authority of the board of directors of the corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.

 

 


Name

 

 


[Notarial Seal]


STATE OF NEW YORK

  )     
    )    ss:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK

  )     

 

On the              day of         ,              before me personally came , to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at                     ; that he is of                     , one of the parties described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to that instrument is such corporate seal; that it was affixed by authority of the board of directors of the corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.

 

 


Name

 

 


[Notarial Seal]

EX-4.6 4 dex46.htm FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE Form of Subordinated Indenture

Exhibit 4.6


 

PLAINS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY

 

and

 

______________________________

Trustee

 

FORM OF

 

SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

 

Dated as of             ,         

 

Providing for Issuance of Securities in Series

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page

ARTICLE ONE Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

   1

            Section 101.

  Definitions.    1

            Section 102.

  Compliance Certificates and Opinions.    8

            Section 103.

  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.    8

            Section 104.

  Acts of Securityholders.    9

            Section 105.

  Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company.    10

            Section 106.

  Notices to Securityholders; Waiver.    10

            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.    11

            Section 112.

  Governing Law.    11

            Section 113.

  Counterparts.    11

            Section 114.

  Judgment Currency.    11

ARTICLE TWO Security Forms

   12

            Section 201.

  Forms Generally.    12

            Section 202.

  Forms of Securities.    12

            Section 203.

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.    13

            Section 204.

  Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.    13

ARTICLE THREE The Securities

   15

            Section 301.

  General Title; General Limitations; Issuable in Series; Terms of Particular Series.    15

            Section 302.

  Denominations.    18

            Section 303.

  Execution, Authentication and Delivery and Dating.    18

            Section 304.

  Temporary Securities.    19

            Section 305.

  Registration, Transfer and Exchange.    20

            Section 306.

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.    21

            Section 307.

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.    21

            Section 308.

  Persons Deemed Owners.    22

            Section 309.

  Cancelation.    23

            Section 310.

  Computation of Interest.    23

            Section 311.

  Medium-term Securities.    23

ARTICLE FOUR Satisfaction and Discharge

   24

            Section 401.

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.    24

            Section 402.

  Application of Trust Money.    25

 

i


            Section 403.

  Repayment of the Company    25

            Section 404.

  Reinstatement    25

ARTICLE FIVE Remedies

   26

            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.    30

            Section 506.

  Application of Money Collected.    30

            Section 507.

  Limitation on Suits.    30

            Section 508.

  Unconditional Right of Securityholders 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.    32

            Section 512.

  Control by Securityholders.    32

            Section 513.

  Waiver of Past Defaults.    32

            Section 514.

  Undertaking for Costs.    32

            Section 515.

  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.    33

ARTICLE SIX The Trustee

   33

            Section 601.

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities.    33

            Section 602.

  Notice of Defaults.    34

            Section 603.

  Certain Rights of Trustee.    35

            Section 604.

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.    35

            Section 605.

  May Hold Securities.    35

            Section 606.

  Money Held in Trust.    36

            Section 607.

  Compensation and Reimbursement.    36

            Section 608.

  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.    36

            Section 609.

  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.    36

            Section 610.

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.    37

            Section 611.

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.    38

            Section 612.

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.    39

            Section 613.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.    39

            Section 614.

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent.    42

ARTICLE SEVEN Securityholders’ Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company

   44

            Section 701.

  Company To Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders.    44

 

ii


            Section 702.

  Preservation of Information; Communications to Securityholders.    44

            Section 703.

  Reports by Trustee.    46

            Section 704.

  Reports by Company.    47

ARTICLE EIGHT Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

   47

            Section 801.

  Company May Consolidate, etc., only on Certain Terms.    47

            Section 802.

  Successor Corporation Substituted.    48

ARTICLE NINE Supplemental Indentures

   48

            Section 901.

  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders.    48

            Section 902.

  Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.    49

            Section 903.

  Execution of Supplemental Indentures.    50

            Section 904.

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures.    50

            Section 905.

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.    50

            Section 906.

  Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.    50

ARTICLE TEN Covenants

   51

            Section 1001.

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.    51

            Section 1002.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency.    51

            Section 1003.

  Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.    51

            Section 1004.

  Statement as to Compliance.    52

            Section 1005.

  Corporate Existence.    53
ARTICLE ELEVEN Redemption of Securities    53

            Section 1101.

  Applicability of Article.    53

            Section 1102.

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.    53

            Section 1103.

  Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.    53

            Section 1104.

  Notice of Redemption.    54

            Section 1105.

  Deposit of Redemption Price.    55

            Section 1106.

  Securities Payable on Redemption Date.    55

            Section 1107.

  Securities Redeemed in Part.    55

            Section 1108.

  Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds.    55

ARTICLE TWELVE Defeasance; Unclaimed Moneys

   56

            Section 1201.

  Applicability of Article.    56

            Section 1202.

  Defeasance.    57

            Section 1203.

  Conditions of Defeasance.    57

            Section 1204.

  Application of Trust Money.    58

            Section 1205.

  Repayment to Company.    58

            Section 1206.

  Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations.    59

            Section 1207.

  Reinstatement.    59

 

iii


ARTICLE THIRTEEN Subordination

   59

            Section 1301.

   Agreement of Securityholders that Securities Subordinated to Extent Provided.    59

            Section 1302.

   Company Not to Make Payments With Respect to Securities in Certain Circumstances.    59

            Section 1303.

   Securities Subordinated to Prior Payments of All Senior Indebtedness on Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization of the Company.    60

            Section 1304.

   Securityholders to be Subrogated to Right of Holders of Senior Indebtedness.    61

            Section 1305.

   Obligation of the Company Unconditional.    61

            Section 1306.

   Trustee Entitled to Assume Payments Not Prohibited in Absence of Notice.    62

            Section 1307.

   Application by Trustee of Monies Deposited With It.    62

            Section 1308.

   Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness.    62

            Section 1309.

   Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities.    62

            Section 1310.

   Right of Trustee to Hold Senior Indebtedness.    63

            Section 1311.

   Article Thirteen Not to Prevent Events of Default.    63

 

iv


THIS SUBORDINATED INDENTURE (the “Indenture”) between PLAINS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”) having its principal office at 700 Milam, Suite 3100, Houston, Texas 77002, and                     , a                      , trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), is made and entered into as of this          day of                     ,         .

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, to be issued in one or more fully registered series.

 

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

 

AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

To set forth or to provide for the establishment of the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are and are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of a series thereof, as the case may be:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

Definitions and Other Provisions

of General Application

 

Section 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto, 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 or by Commission rule under 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 generally accepted accounting principles and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America at the date of such computation;

 

(4) all references in this instrument to designated “Articles”, “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other


subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed. 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; and

 

(5) “including” and words of similar import shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation”. Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that Article.

 

Act”, when used with respect to any Security-holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

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

 

Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to authenticate Securities under Section 614.

 

Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of 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” means each day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in the pertinent Place or Places of Payment are authorized or required by law or executive order to be closed.

 

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity (which includes, but is not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and partnership and joint venture interests) of such Person (excluding any debt securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, such equity).

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

 

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

 

2


Company Request”, “Company Order” and “Company Consent” mean, respectively, a written request, order or consent signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President, and by a Vice President, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, Controller, an Assistant Controller, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee in New York, New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at             ,             ,             ,                          , except that with respect to the presentation of Securities for payment or for registration of transfer and exchange, such term shall mean the office or the agency of the Trustee in said city at which at any particular time its corporate agency business shall be conducted, which office at the date hereof is located at             ,             ,             ,                          .

 

Debt” means indebtedness for money borrowed.

 

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to either Section 204 or Section 301, with respect to Securities of any series issuable or issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation.

 

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

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Global Security” means with respect to any series of Securities issued hereunder, a Security which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and an indenture supplemental hereto, if any, or Board Resolution and pursuant to a Company Request, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due, and interest rate or method of determining interest.

 

Holder”, when used with respect to any Security, means a Securityholder.

 

Indenture” or “this Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

Independent”, when used with respect to any specified Person, means such a Person who (1) is in fact independent, (2) does not have any direct financial interest or any material

 

3


indirect financial interest in the Company or in any other obligor upon the Securities or in any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, and (3) is not connected with the Company or such other obligor or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, as an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner, director or person performing similar functions. Whenever it is herein provided that any Independent Person’s opinion or certificate shall be furnished to the Trustee, such opinion or certificate shall state that the signer has read this definition and that the signer is Independent within the meaning hereof.

 

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 series of Securities, means the Stated Maturity of any installment of interest on those Securities.

 

Junior Securities” means securities that are subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness at least to the same extent as the Securities.

 

Junior Subordinated Securities” means the securities issued under the Indenture dated as of July 3, 2002 among Plains Exploration & Production Company, L.P., Plains E&P Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee.

 

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

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Wherever this Indenture requires that an Officers’ Certificate be signed also by an engineer or an accountant or other expert, such engineer, accountant or other expert (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) may be in the employ of the Company, and shall be acceptable to the Trustee, whose acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) be an employee of or of counsel to the Company. Such counsel shall be acceptable to the Trustee, whose acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Original Issue Discount Security” means (i) 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, and (ii) any other Security deemed an Original Issue Discount Security for United States Federal income tax purposes.

 

Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities or Securities of any series, means, as of the date of determination, all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(i) such Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

4


(ii) such Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust 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; and

 

(iii) such Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, or which shall have been paid pursuant to the terms of Section 306 (except with respect to any such Security as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company).

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Securities Outstanding have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (i) the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of the taking of such action upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof and (ii) 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. In determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer assigned to the corporate trust department of the Trustee knows to be owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act as owner 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 such other obligor.

 

Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or other entity.

 

Place of Payment” means with respect to any series of Securities issued hereunder the city or political subdivision so designated with respect to the series of Securities in question in accordance with the provisions of Section 301.

 

Predecessor Securities” 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 lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

 

5


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 specified in the Security at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date means the date specified in such Security as the Regular Record Date.

 

Repayment Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, means the date fixed for such repayment pursuant to such Security.

 

Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, means the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to such Security.

 

Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means the chairman or vice-chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or vice-chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the president, any vice president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any assistant cashier, any senior trust officer or trust officer, the controller and 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.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which owns or leases (as lessor or lessee) a Principal Property, but does not include any Subsidiary the principal business of which is leasing machinery, equipment, vehicles or other properties none of which is a Principal Property, or financing accounts receivable, or engaging in ownership and development of any property or assets which is not a Principal Property.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Security” or “Securities” means any note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered from time to time under this Indenture.

 

Security Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 305.

 

Security Registrar” means the Person who keeps the Security Register specified in Section 305.

 

Securityholder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

6


Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the following whether outstanding on the date of execution of this Indenture or thereafter incurred or created (i) indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed by the Company (including purchase money obligations with an original maturity in excess of one year) or evidenced by securities (other than the Junior Subordinated Securities and the Securities), notes, bankers’ acceptances or other corporate debt securities or similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) obligations with respect to letters of credit; (iii) indebtedness of the Company constituting a guarantee of indebtedness of others of the type referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii); or (iv) renewals, extensions or refundings of any of the indebtedness referred to in the preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness, renewal, extension or refunding, under the express provisions of the instrument creating or evidencing the same, or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, such indebtedness or such renewal, extension or refunding thereof is not superior in right of payment to the Securities.

 

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest (as defined in Section 307) 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” of any Person means any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership and joint venture interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person, (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Successor Company” has the meaning specified in Section 801.

 

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed except as provided in Section 905.

 

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 and include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America 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 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, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

7


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”, including, without limitation, an assistant 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 an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such Counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for the written statement required by 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.

 

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 the 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

 

8


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 Securityholders.

 

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Securityholders or Securityholders of any series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. If any Securities are denominated in coin or currency other than that of the United States, then for the purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have taken any action as herein described, the principal amount of such Securities shall be deemed to be that amount of United States dollars that could be obtained for such principal amount on the basis of the spot rate of exchange into United States dollars for the currency in which such Securities are denominated (as evidenced to the Trustee by an Officers’ Certificate) as of the date the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal amount is evidenced to the Trustee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Securityholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness to such execution or by the certificate of any 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 an officer of a corporation or a member of a partnership, on behalf of such corporation or partnership, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option,

 

9


by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Securities Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Securities Outstanding shall be computed as of the record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

 

(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind the Holder of every Security issued upon the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of anything done 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.

 

Section 105. Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Securityholders 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 Securityholder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, or

 

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Securityholder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (except as provided in Section 501(4) or, in the case of a request for repayment, as specified in the Security carrying the right to repayment) 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 or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

Section 106. Notices to Securityholders; Waiver. Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice to Securityholders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein or in such Security expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Securityholders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Securityholder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Securityholders. Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Securityholders 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.

 

10


In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a result of a strike, work stoppage or otherwise, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to any Securityholder when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any method of notification as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.

 

Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through the operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.

 

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 any Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, any Authenticating Agent or Paying Agent, the Security Registrar and the Holders of Securities (or such of them as may be affected thereby), any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 112. Governing Law. This Indenture shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

Section 113. Counterparts. 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.

 

Section 114. Judgment Currency. The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day (as defined below) preceding that on which final unappealable judgment is given and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not

 

11


entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in the City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

Security Forms

 

Section 201. Forms Generally. The Securities shall have 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 applicable laws or regulations or with the rules of any securities exchange, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.

 

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods 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, subject, with respect to the Securities of any series, to the rules of any securities exchange on which such Securities are listed.

 

Section 202. Forms of Securities. Each Security shall be in one of the forms approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the delivery of a Security to the Trustee for authentication in any form approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee the Board Resolution by or pursuant to which such form of Security has been approved, which Board Resolution shall have attached thereto a true and correct copy of the form of Security which has been approved thereby or, if a Board Resolution authorizes a specific officer or officers to approve a form of Security, a certificate of such officer or officers approving the form of Security attached thereto. Any form of Security approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution must be acceptable as to form to the Trustee, such acceptance to be evidenced by the Trustee’s authentication of Securities in that form or a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and delivered to the Company.

 

12


Section 203. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for any Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

                                                             ,

as Trustee,

By:    
 
   

Authorized Signatory

 

Section 204. Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

 

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 202 and Section 301 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 303 and the Company Request delivered to the Trustee or its agent thereunder, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Securities, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in a Company Request, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

 

“UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.”

 

13


(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 204 or of Section 305, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for individual Securities, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 305, only to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or to the Depositary, or a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

(c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities for such series ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company will execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Request for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver, individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security.

 

(ii) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Request for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security or Securities representing such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

 

(iii) If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 202 and Section 301 with respect to Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, (1) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and (2) to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities delivered to the Holders thereof.

 

14


(iv) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver individual Securities in definitive registered form in authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Security Registrar. The Trustee or the Security Registrar shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

The Securities

 

Section 301. General Title; General Limitations; Issuable in Series; Terms of Particular Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered and Outstanding under this Indenture is not limited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to an aggregate principal amount of Securities as from time to time may be authorized by the Board of Directors. All Securities of each series under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof with respect to such series without preference, priority or distinction on account of the actual time of the authentication and delivery or Stated Maturity of the Securities of such series.

 

Each series of Securities shall be created either by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by or pursuant to an indenture supplemental hereto. The Securities of each such series may bear such date or dates, be payable at such place or places, have such Stated Maturity or Maturities, be issuable at such premium over or discount from their face value, bear interest at such rate or rates (which may be fixed or floating), from such date or dates, payable in such installments and on such dates and at such place or places to the Holders of Securities registered as such on such Regular Record Dates, or may bear no interest, and may be redeemable or repayable at such Redemption Price or Prices or Repayment Price or Prices, as the case may be, whether at the option of the Holder or otherwise, and upon such terms, all as shall be provided for in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture creating that series. There may also be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture prior to the issuance of Securities of each such series, provision for:

 

(1) the exchange or conversion of the Securities of that series, at the option of the Holders thereof, for or into new Securities of a different series or other securities or other property, including shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares;

 

15


(2) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;

 

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

 

(4) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies (including European Currency Units) in which the Securities of such series shall be denominated and in which payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, such Securities shall or may be payable;

 

(5) if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a holder thereof, in a currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies (including European Currency Units) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

 

(6) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series may be determined with reference to an index based on (i) a currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies (including European Currency Units) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, (ii) changes in the price of one or more other securities or groups or indexes of securities or (iii) changes in the prices of one or more commodities or groups or indexes of commodities, or any combination of the foregoing, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(7) if the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series is to be limited, such limitations;

 

(8) the exchange of Securities of that series, at the option of the Holders thereof, for other Securities of the same series of the same aggregate principal amount of a different authorized kind or different authorized denomination or denominations, or both;

 

(9) the appointment by the Trustee of an Authenticating Agent in one or more places other than the location of the office of the Trustee with power to act on behalf of the Trustee and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of the Securities of any one or more series in connection with such transactions as shall be specified in the provisions of this Indenture or in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or the supplemental indenture creating such series;

 

(10) the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series, if other than the total principal amount thereof, which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504;

 

16


(11) any Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series, if not set forth herein and any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default set forth herein that shall be applicable to the Securities of such series (including a provision making any Event of Default set forth herein inapplicable to the Securities of that series);

 

(12) any covenant solely for the benefit of the Securities of such series and any additions, deletions or other changes to the provisions of Article Ten or any definitions relating to such Article that shall be applicable to the Securities of such series (including a provision making any Section of such Article inapplicable to the Securities of such series);

 

(13) the applicability of Section 403 of this Indenture to the Securities of such series;

 

(14) if the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Global Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities (if other than the Depositary specified in Section 101 hereof);

 

(15) the subordination of the Securities of such series to any other indebtedness of the Company, including without limitation, the Securities of any other series; and

 

(16) any other terms of the series, which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture,

 

all upon such terms as may be determined in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture with respect to such series. All Securities of the same series shall be substantially identical in tenor and effect, except as to denomination.

 

The form of the Securities of each series shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture creating such series. The Securities of each series shall be distinguished from the Securities of each other series in such manner, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, as the Board of Directors may determine.

 

Unless otherwise provided with respect to Securities of a particular series, the Securities of any series may only be issuable in registered form, without coupons.

 

Any terms or provisions in respect of the Securities of any series issued under this Indenture may be determined pursuant to this Section by providing in a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture for the method by which such terms or provisions shall be determined.

 

17


Section 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations and currency as shall be provided in the provisions of this Indenture or in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or the supplemental indenture creating such series. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of that series shall be issuable only in fully registered form in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 303. Execution, Authentication and Delivery and Dating. The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President, one of its Vice Presidents or its Treasurer under its corporate seal reproduced thereon and 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 executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication; and the Trustee shall, upon Company Order, authenticate and deliver such Securities as in this Indenture provided and not otherwise.

 

Prior to any such authentication and delivery, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to any Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 102, and the Board Resolution and any certificate relating to the issuance of the series of Securities required to be furnished pursuant to Section 202, an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

 

(1) all instruments furnished to the Trustee conform to the requirements of the Indenture and constitute sufficient authority hereunder for the Trustee to authenticate and deliver such Securities;

 

(2) the form and terms (or in connection with the issuance of medium-term Securities under Section 311, the manner of determining the terms) of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(3) all laws and requirements with respect to the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities have been complied with, the Company has the corporate power to issue such Securities and such Securities have been duly authorized and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authentication and delivery by the Trustee, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws and legal principles affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity) and entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, equally and ratably with all other Securities, if any, of such series Outstanding; and

 

18


(4) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request; and, if the authentication and delivery relates to a new series of Securities created by an indenture supplemental hereto, also stating that all laws and requirements with respect to the form and execution by the Company of the supplemental indenture with respect to that series of Securities have been complied with, the Company has corporate power to execute and deliver any such supplemental indenture and has taken all necessary corporate action for those purposes and any such supplemental indenture has been executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws and legal principles affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity).

 

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue thereof will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Security for any series, all Securities shall be dated the date of their 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 of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 304. Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and, upon receipt of the documents required by Section 303, together with a 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 such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, 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, without charge to the Holder; and upon surrender for cancelation of any one or more temporary Securities the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of such series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of such series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

 

19


Section 305. Registration, Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register (herein sometimes 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, or of Securities of a particular series, and for transfers of Securities or of Securities of such series. Any such register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times the information contained in such register or registers shall be available for inspection by the Trustee at the office or agency to be maintained by the Company as provided in Section 1002.

 

Subject to Section 204, upon surrender for transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, 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 such series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity and of like tenor and terms.

 

Subject to Section 204, at the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of such series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity and of like tenor and terms, 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 which the Securityholder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any 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 transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Security to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge shall be made on any Securityholder for any transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may (unless otherwise provided in such Security) require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, Section 906 or Section 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, transfer or exchange any Security of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the date of such mailing, or (ii) to transfer or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except for the portion of such Security not so selected for redemption.

 

20


None of the Company, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Security Registrar for the Securities on its behalf. The Company may at any time and from time to time authorize any Person to act as Security Registrar in place of the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, or the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and (ii) there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor, series, Stated Maturity and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.

 

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

 

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

 

Every new Security 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 the same 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. Unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 301, 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.

 

21


Any interest on any Security 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 registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of his having been such Holder; and, except as hereinafter provided, such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or Clause (2) below:

 

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names any such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of each such Security at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest 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.

 

If any installment of interest the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Security called for redemption pursuant to Article Eleven is not paid or duly provided for on or prior to the Redemption Date in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section, such interest shall be payable as part of the Redemption Price of such Securities.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon 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. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered in the

 

22


Security Register as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any), and (subject to Section 307) interest on, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Section 309. Cancelation. All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer, conversion or exchange or credit against a sinking fund shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not already canceled, shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancelation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Security shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) dispose of all canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures and shall deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company.

 

Section 310. Computation of Interest. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated in Section 301, interest on the Securities shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 311. Medium-term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, Board Resolution, supplemental indenture, Opinion of Counsel or Company Request otherwise required pursuant to Section 202, Section 301 and Section 303 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued; provided that any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 102 shall be true and correct as if made on such date.

 

An Officers’ Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph may provide that Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of persons designated in such Officers’ Certificate, Board Resolution or supplemental indenture (any such telephonic instructions to be confirmed promptly in writing by such persons) and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, such terms and conditions of said Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution.

 

23


ARTICLE FOUR

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities (except as to any surviving rights of conversion, transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or in the form of Security for such series and the Company’s rights of optional redemption expressly provided for herein or in the form of Securities for such series), and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

 

(1) either

 

(A) all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Securities of such series 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 canceled or for cancellation; or

 

(B) all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee canceled or 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 for the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee canceled or for cancelation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

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

 

24


Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the Company’s obligations in Section 306, Section 307, Section 308, Section 309, Section 310, Section 402, Section 403, Section 508, Section 607, Section 610, Section 1002, and Section 1003, and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 1003 shall survive until the Notes are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the Company’s obligations in Section 403, Section 607 and Section 1003 and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 1003 shall survive.

 

In order to have money available on a payment date to pay principal (and premium, if any, on) or interest on the Notes, the U.S. Government Obligations shall be payable as to principal (and premium, if any) or interest at least one Business Day before such payment date in such amounts as will provide the necessary money.

 

Section 402. Application of Trust Money. All money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of such obligations shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the series of Securities in respect of which it was deposited and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money and obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee; but such money and obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 403. Repayment of the Company.

 

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon written request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

 

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due; provided that the Company shall have either caused notice of such payment to be mailed to each Holder of the Securities entitled thereto no less than 30 days prior to such repayment or within such period shall have published such notice in a financial newspaper of widespread circulation published in The City of New York, including, without limitation, The Wall Street Journal (national edition). After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

 

Section 404. Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 401 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court of governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities

 

25


shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit has occurred pursuant to Section 401 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 402; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities because of the reinstatement of their Obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

Remedies

 

Section 501. Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein, means with respect to any series of Securities 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), unless such event is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the supplemental indenture creating such series of Securities or in the form of Security for such series:

 

(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 90 days whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions described in Article Thirteen; or

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(3) default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of such series whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions described in Article Thirteen; or

 

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture in respect of the Securities of such series (other than a covenant or warranty in respect of the Securities of such series a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), all of such covenants and warranties in the Indenture which are not expressly stated to be for the benefit of a particular series of Securities being deemed in respect of the Securities of all series for this purpose, 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 such 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

 

26


(5) the entry of an order for relief against the Company under the Federal Bankruptcy Code by a court having jurisdiction in the premises or a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent under any other applicable Federal or State law, or the entry of a decree or order approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(6) the consent by the Company to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a 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

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such series.

 

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) (if the Event of Default under paragraph (4) or (7) is with respect to less than all series of Securities then Outstanding) of Section 501 occurs and is continuing with respect to any series, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series acting as a separate class), by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Securities of such series then Outstanding and all accrued interest thereon to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in paragraph (4) or (7) (if the Event of Default under paragraph (4) or (7) is with respect to all series of Securities then Outstanding), (5) or (6) of Section 501 occurs and is continuing, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities then Outstanding hereunder (treated as one class), by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the Securities then Outstanding and all accrued interest thereon to be due and

 

27


payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to the Securities of any series 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 such 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 installments of interest on the Securities of such series,

 

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

 

(C) interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor by the terms of the Securities of such series to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, 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 all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607; and

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to such series of Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Securities of such series which have become due solely by such 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 installment of interest on any Security of any series when such interest becomes due and payable, or

 

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

 

28


(3) default is made in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of any series,

 

and any such default continues for any period of grace provided with respect to the Securities of such series, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holder of any such Security (or the Holders of any such series in the case of Clause (3) above), the whole amount then due and payable on any such Security (or on the Securities of any such series in the case of Clause (3) above) for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, with interest, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and upon overdue installments of interest, at such rate or rates as may be prescribed therefor by the terms of any such Security (or of Securities of any such series in the case of Clause (3) above); 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 and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

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, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series and collect the money 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 any series of Securities occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement 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 the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

 

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary and advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607) and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

29


(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payment to the Trustee and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan or 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 Securityholder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities of any series may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities of such series 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 agent and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities of the series in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities 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 premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of such series 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;

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities of that series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD: To the Company or to such other party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

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 Securities of such series;

 

30


(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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 such series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders of Securities of such series 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 Holders of Securities of such series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and proportionate benefit of all the Holders of all Securities of such series.

 

Section 508. Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Securityholder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Securityholders 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.

 

31


Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security 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 Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders, as the case may be.

 

Section 512. Control by Securityholders. 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) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would conflict with this Indenture or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer, determine that the proceedings so directed would involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction, 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 not theretofore cured

 

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation with respect to the Securities 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.

 

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. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that

 

32


such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series to which the suit relates, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date).

 

Section 515. Waiver of 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 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 SIX

 

The Trustee

 

Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities,

 

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(b) In case an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

33


(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(1) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

 

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(4) 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.

 

(d) 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. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment or analogous obligation with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series; and provided, further, 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 Securityholders of such series shall be given until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default”, with respect to Securities of any series, 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.

 

34


Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 601:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Securityholders 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;

 

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture 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; and

 

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

 

Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 605. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Paying Agent, the 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 Section 608 and Section 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

35


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 may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and

 

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, 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.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities.

 

Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. The Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act during the period of time provided for therein. In determining whether the Trustee has a conflicting interest as defined in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series, there shall be excluded for purposes of the conflicting interest provisions of such Section 310(b) the Securities of every other series issued under this Indenture (i) securities issued under the Indenture dated as of July 3, 2002, among Plains Exploration & Production Company, L.P., Plains E&P Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee, and (ii) every series of securities issued under the Indenture dated as of                  ,             , between Plains Exploration & Production Company and                     , as Trustee. Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the Commission the application referred to in the second to last paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Securities, which shall be a corporation

 

36


organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 611.

 

(b) The Trustee may resign with respect to any series of Securities at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee 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.

 

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

 

(d) If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act pursuant to Section 608 with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least 6 months, or

 

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 with respect to any series of Securities and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or

 

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or

 

(4) the Trustee shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee, with respect to the series, or in the case of Clause (4), with respect to all series, or (ii) subject to Section 514, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least 6 months may, on behalf

 

37


of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the series, or, in the case of Clause (4), with respect to all series.

 

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities for any cause, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee for that series of Securities. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapacity, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to such series of Securities 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, become the successor Trustee with respect to such series and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company with respect to such series. If no successor Trustee with respect to such series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Securityholders of such series and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least 6 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 such series.

 

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Securities of that series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its principal Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become effective with respect to any series as to which it is resigning or being removed as Trustee, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to any such series; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such predecessor Trustee shall, upon payment of its reasonable charges, if any, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the predecessor Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such predecessor Trustee hereunder with respect to all or any such series, subject nevertheless to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 607. 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.

 

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 predecessor Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary

 

38


or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not being succeeded shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and 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.

 

No successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible with respect to that series 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 of 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.

 

(a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this Section, if the Trustee shall be or shall become a creditor, directly or indirectly, secured or unsecured, of the Company within 3 months prior to a default, as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section, or subsequent to such a default, then, unless and until such default shall be cured, the Trustee shall set apart and hold in a special account for the benefit of the Trustee individually, the Holders of the Securities and the holders of other indenture securities (as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section):

 

(1) an amount equal to any and all reductions in the amount due and owing upon any claim as such creditor in respect of principal or interest, effected after the beginning of such 3-month period and valid as against the Company and its other creditors, except any such reduction resulting from the receipt or disposition of any property described in paragraph (2) of this Subsection, or from the exercise of any right of set-off which the Trustee could have exercised if a petition in bankruptcy had been filed by or against the Company upon the date of such default; and

 

(2) all property received by the Trustee in respect of any claim as such creditor, either as security therefor, or in satisfaction or composition thereof, or otherwise, after the beginning of such 3-month period, or an amount equal to the proceeds of any such property, if disposed of, subject, however, to the rights, if any, of the Company and its other creditors in such property or such proceeds.

 

39


Nothing herein contained, however, shall affect the right of the Trustee

 

(A) to retain for its own account (i) payments made on account of any such claim by any Person (other than the Company) who is liable thereon, and (ii) the proceeds of the bona fide sale of any such claim by the Trustee to a third person, and (iii) distributions made in cash, securities or other property in respect of claims filed against the Company in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law;

 

(B) to realize, for its own account, upon any property held by it as security for any such claim, if such property was so held prior to the beginning of such 3-month period;

 

(C) to realize, for its own account, but only to the extent of the claim hereinafter mentioned, upon any property held by it as security for any such claim, if such claim was created after the beginning of such 3-month period and such property was received as security therefor simultaneously with the creation thereof, and if the Trustee shall sustain the burden of proving that at the time such property was so received the Trustee had no reasonable cause to believe that a default as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section would occur within 3 months; or

 

(D) to receive payment on any claim referred to in paragraph (B) or (C), against the release of any property held as security for such claim as provided in paragraph (B) or (C), as the case may be, to the extent of the fair value of such property.

 

For the purposes of paragraphs (B), (C) and (D), property substituted after the beginning of such 3-month period for property held as security at the time of such substitution shall, to the extent of the fair value of the property released, have the same status as the property released, and, to the extent that any claim referred to in any of such paragraphs is created in renewal of or in substitution for or for the purpose of repaying or refunding any pre-existing claim of the Trustee as such creditor, such claim shall have the same status as such pre-existing claim.

 

If the Trustee shall be required to account, the funds and property held in such special account and the proceeds thereof shall be apportioned between the Trustee, the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities in such manner that the Trustee, the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities realize, as a result of payments from such special account and payments of dividends on claims filed against the Company in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law, the same percentage of their respective claims, figured before crediting to the claim of the Trustee anything on account of the receipt by it from the Company of the funds and property in such special account and before crediting to the respective claims of the Trustee and the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities dividends on claims filed against the Company in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law, but after crediting thereon receipts on

 

40


account of the indebtedness represented by their respective claims from all sources other than from such dividends and from the funds and property so held in such special account. As used in this paragraph, with respect to any claim, the term “dividends” shall include any distribution with respect to such claim, in bankruptcy or receivership or proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law, whether such distribution is made in cash, securities, or other property, but shall not include any such distribution with respect to the secured portion, if any, of such claim. The court in which such bankruptcy, receivership or proceedings for reorganization is pending shall have jurisdiction (i) to apportion between the Trustee and the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, the funds and property held in such special account and proceeds thereof, or (ii) in lieu of such apportionment, in whole or in part, to give to the provisions of this paragraph due consideration in determining the fairness of the distributions to be made to the Trustee and the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities with respect to their respective claims, in which event it shall not be necessary to liquidate or to appraise the value of any securities or other property held in such special account or as security for any such claim, or to make a specific allocation of such distributions as between the secured and unsecured portions of such claims, or otherwise to apply the provisions of this paragraph as a mathematical formula.

 

Any Trustee which has resigned or been removed after the beginning of such 3-month period shall be subject to the provisions of this Subsection as though such resignation or removal had not occurred. If any Trustee has resigned or been removed prior to the beginning of such 3-month period, it shall be subject to the provisions of this Subsection if and only if the following conditions exist:

 

(i) the receipt of property or reduction of claim, which would have given rise to the obligation to account, if such Trustee had continued as Trustee, occurred after the beginning of such 3-month period; and

 

(ii) such receipt of property or reduction of claim occurred within 3 months after such resignation or removal.

 

(b) There shall be excluded from the operation of Subsection (a) of this Section a creditor relationship arising from

 

(1) the ownership or acquisition of securities issued under any indenture, or any security or securities having a maturity of one year or more at the time of acquisition by the Trustee;

 

(2) advances authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction, or by this Indenture, for the purpose of preserving any property which shall at any time be subject to the lien of this Indenture or of discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances thereon, if notice of such advances and of the circumstances surrounding the making thereof is given to the Securityholders at the time and in the manner provided in this Indenture;

 

41


(3) disbursements made in the ordinary course of business in the capacity of trustee under an indenture, transfer agent, registrar, custodian, paying agent, fiscal agent or depositary, or other similar capacity;

 

(4) an indebtedness created as a result of services rendered or premises rented; or an indebtedness created as a result of goods or securities sold in a cash transaction as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section;

 

(5) the ownership of stock or of other securities of a corporation organized under the provisions of Section 25(a) of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, which is directly or indirectly a creditor of the Company; or

 

(6) the acquisition, ownership, acceptance or negotiation of any drafts, bills of exchange, acceptances or obligations which fall within the classification of self liquidating paper as defined in Subsection (c) of this Section.

 

(c) For the purposes of this Section only:

 

(1) The term “default” means any failure to make payment in full of the principal of or interest on any of the Securities or upon the other indenture securities when and as such principal or interest becomes due and payable.

 

(2) The term “other indenture securities” means securities upon which the Company is an obligor outstanding under any other indenture (i) under which the Trustee is also trustee, (ii) which contains provisions substantially similar to the provisions of this Section, and (iii) under which a default exists at the time of the apportionment of the funds and property held in such special account.

 

(3) The term “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within 7 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.

 

(4) The term “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, 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.

 

(5) The term “Company” means any obligor upon the Securities.

 

Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding the Trustee, with the approval of the Company, may appoint an

 

42


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 exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall 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 an Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and, if other than the Company itself, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and, if other than the Company, 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, if other than the Company, 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, with the approval of the Company, may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent (other than an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company 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.

 

43


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

 

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

 

                                                             ,

as Trustee

By:

 

 


   

As Authenticating Agent

By:

 

 


   

Authorized Signatory

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

Securityholders’ Lists and Reports by

Trustee and Company

 

Section 701. Company To Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(a) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date, in each year in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, a list of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such date, and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished,

 

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 Securityholders.

 

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

 

(b) If 3 or more Holders of Securities of any series (hereinafter referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that

 

44


each such applicant has owned a Security of such series for a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders of Securities of such series or with the Holders of all Securities with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either

 

(1) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), or

 

(2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders of Securities of such series or all Securities, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder of a Security of such series or to all Securityholders, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless, within 5 days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or all Securityholders, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all Securityholders of such series or all Securityholders, as the case may be, with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 702(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 702(b).

 

45


Section 703. Reports by Trustee.

 

(a) The term “reporting date” as used in this Section means May 15. Within 60 days after the reporting date in each year, beginning in May 15, 2005, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, a brief report dated as of such reporting date with respect to any of the following events which may have occurred during the 12 months preceding the date of such report (but if no such event has occurred within such period no report need be transmitted):

 

(1) any change to its eligibility under Section 609 and its qualifications under Section 608;

 

(2) the creation of or any material change to a relationship specified in Section 310(b)(1) through Section 310(b)(10) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(3) the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) which remain unpaid on the date of such report, and for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of Securities of any series, on any property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances if such advances so remaining unpaid aggregate not more than 1/2 of 1% of the principal amount of the Securities of such series outstanding on the date of such report;

 

(4) any change to the amount, interest rate and maturity date of all other indebtedness owing by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities) to the Trustee in its individual capacity, on the date of such report, with a brief description of any property held as collateral security therefor, except an indebtedness based upon a creditor relationship arising in a manner described in Section 613(b)(2), (3), (4) or (6);

 

(5) any change to the property and funds, if any, physically in the possession of the Trustee as such on the date of such report;

 

(6) any additional issue of Securities which the Trustee has not previously reported; and

 

(7) any action taken by the Trustee in the performance of its duties hereunder which it has not previously reported and which in its opinion materially affects the Securities, except action in respect of a default, notice of which has been or is to be withheld by the Trustee in accordance with Section 602.

 

(b) The Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, a brief report with respect to the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) since the date of the last report transmitted pursuant to Subsection (a) of this Section (or if no such report has yet been so transmitted, since the date of execution of this instrument) for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities of any series, on property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, and which it has not previously reported pursuant to this Subsection, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances if such advances

 

46


remaining unpaid at any time aggregate 10% or less of the principal amount of the Securities Outstanding of such series at such time, such report to be transmitted within 90 days after such time.

 

(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which the Securities are listed, and also with the Commission. The Company will notify the Trustee when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 704. Reports by Company. The Company will

 

(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and (3) transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

 

Section 801. Company May Consolidate, etc., only on Certain Terms. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:

 

(1) the corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company (“Successor Company”) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of Columbia,

 

47


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 premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance 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, 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 or transfer and 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 Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the Successor Company formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein. In the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company as the predecessor corporation may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated at any time thereafter.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

Supplemental Indentures

 

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders. Without the consent of the Holders of any Securities, 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 of the Company herein and in the Securities contained; or

 

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

 

(3) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture or to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Holder of the Securities; or

 

48


(4) to add to this Indenture such provisions as may be expressly permitted by the TIA, excluding, however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA as in effect at the date as of which this instrument was executed or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted; or

 

(5) to establish any form of Security, as provided in Article Two, and to provide for the issuance of any series of Securities as provided in Article Three and to set forth the terms thereof, and/or to add to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of any series; or

 

(6) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another corporation as a successor Trustee hereunder with respect to one or more series of Securities 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 Section 611; or

 

(7) to add any additional Events of Default in respect of the Securities of any or all series (and if such additional Events of Default are to be in respect of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of one or more specified series); or

 

(8) to provide for the issuance of Securities in coupon as well as fully registered form.

 

No supplemental indenture for the purposes identified in Clauses (2), (3), (5) or (7) above may be entered into if to do so would adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of any series.

 

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures, 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 the Securities of each 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 Maturity of the principal of, or the Stated Maturity of any premium on, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest or any premium thereon, or change the method of computing the amount of principal thereof or interest thereon on any date or change any Place of Payment where, or 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 Maturity or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be); or

 

49


(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) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 513, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby.

 

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 Securityholders 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 (except to the extent required in the case of a supplemental indenture entered into under Section 901(4) or Section 901(6)) be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby to the extent provided therein.

 

Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the TIA as then in effect.

 

Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities 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 so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, 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.

 

50


Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Secured Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

Covenants

 

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities in accordance with their terms and this Indenture, and will duly comply with all the other terms, agreements and conditions contained in, or made in the Indenture for the benefit of, the Securities of such series.

 

Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and of any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

Section 1003. Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent for any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on, any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on, any Securities of such series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal (and premium, if any) 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 other than the Trustee for any series of Securities 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

 

51


(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any such payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of such series; and

 

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

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

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease. The Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company mail to the Holders of the Securities as to which the money to be repaid was held in trust, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, a notice that such moneys remain unclaimed and that, after a date specified in the notice, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date on which the notice was first mailed to the Holders of the Securities as to which the money to be repaid was held in trust, any unclaimed balance of such moneys then remaining will be paid to the Company free of the trust formerly impressed upon it.

 

The Company initially authorizes the Trustee to act as Paying Agent for the Securities on its behalf. The Company may at any time and from time to time authorize one or more Persons to act as Paying Agent in addition to or in place of the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

Section 1004. Statement as to Compliance. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company, stating that

 

(1) a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of the Company’s performance under this Indenture and under the terms of the Securities has been made under his supervision; and

 

52


(2) to the best of his knowledge, based on such review, the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture through such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to him and the nature and status thereof.

 

Section 1005. Corporate 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 corporate existence.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

Redemption of Securities

 

Section 1101. Applicability of Article. The Company may reserve the right to redeem and pay before Stated Maturity all or any part of the Securities of any series, either by optional redemption, sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation or otherwise, by provision therefor in the form of Security for such series established and approved pursuant to Section 202 and on such terms as are specified in such form or in the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 301. Redemption of Securities of any series shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and, to the extent that this Article does not conflict with such terms, the succeeding Sections of this Article.

 

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities redeemable at the election of the Company shall be evidenced by, or made pursuant to authority granted by, a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of any Securities of any series, 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 and of the principal amount of Securities of such series 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 like tenor and terms of any series 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 not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may include provision for the

 

53


selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a particular series of Securities, the portions of the principal of Securities so selected for partial redemption shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination of the Securities of such series, or an integral multiple thereof, and the principal amount which remains outstanding shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series. If less than all the Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1104. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the Redemption Price;

 

(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the Securities to be redeemed, from the Holder to whom the notice is given;

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security, and that unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest, if any, thereon shall cease to accrue from and after said date;

 

(5) the place where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, which shall be the office or agency of the Company in the Place of Payment; and

 

(6) that the redemption is on account of a sinking or purchase fund, or other analogous obligation, if that be the case.

 

54


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

 

Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of 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) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of such Securities for redemption in accordance with the notice, such Securities shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price. Installments of interest the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities registered as such on the relevant Regular 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 shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Security, or as otherwise provided in such Security.

 

Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company in the Place of Payment with respect to that series (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 Stated Maturity and of like tenor and terms, 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.

 

Section 1108. Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds. Unless the form or terms of any series of Securities shall provide otherwise, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to such series of Securities in cash, the Company may at its option (1) deliver to the Trustee for cancelation any Securities of such series theretofore acquired by the Company, or (2) receive credit for any Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancelation or redeemed by the Company other than through the mandatory sinking fund, and if it does so then (i) Securities so delivered or credited shall be credited at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, and (ii) on or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to such series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee (A) an Officers’ Certificate specifying the portions of such sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of cash and by delivery or credit of

 

55


Securities of such series acquired by the Company or so redeemed, and (B) such Securities so acquired, to the extent not previously surrendered. Such Officers’ Certificate shall also state the basis for such credit and that the Securities for which the Company elects to receive credit have not been previously so credited and were not redeemed by the Company through operation of the mandatory sinking fund, if any, provided with respect to such Securities and shall also state that no Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing. All Securities so delivered to the Trustee shall be canceled by the Trustee and no Securities shall be authenticated in lieu thereof.

 

If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) with respect to any series of Securities made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments with respect to Securities of such series made in cash shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request), unless otherwise provided by the terms of such series of Securities, that cash shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to Securities of such series next following the date of such payment to the redemption of Securities of such series at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, with the effect provided in Section 1106. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 1103, for redemption on such sinking fund Redemption Date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to utilize that cash and shall thereupon cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series for the sinking fund to be given in the manner provided in Section 1104 (and with the effect provided in Section 1106) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment with respect to Securities of such series received by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1108. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to Securities of any series held by the Trustee at the Maturity of Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.

 

On or before each sinking fund Redemption Date provided with respect to Securities of any series, the Company shall pay to the Trustee in cash a sum equal to all accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund Redemption Date pursuant to this Section 1108.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

Defeasance; Unclaimed Moneys

 

Section 1201. Applicability of Article. If, pursuant to Section 301, provision is made for the defeasance of Securities of a series and if the Securities of such series are denominated and payable only in Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 301), then the provisions of this Article Twelve relating to defeasance of Securities shall be applicable except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for Securities of such series. Defeasance provisions, if any, for Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency may be specified pursuant to Section 301.

 

56


Section 1202. Defeasance.

 

(a) Subject to Section 1202(b), Section 1203 and Section 1207, the Company at any time may terminate, with respect to Securities of a particular series, (i) all its obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series (“legal defeasance option”) or (ii) its obligations with respect to the Securities of such series under any covenants that may be included in any supplement hereto (“covenant defeasance option”). The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

 

If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the exercise of the legal defeasance option in clause (a) above, the Company’s obligations in Section 305, Section 306, Section 1002, Section 701, Section 607, Section 608, Section 1205, Section 1206 and Section 1207 shall survive until the Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Section 607, Section 1205 and Section 1206 shall survive.

 

Section 1203. Conditions of Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Securities of a particular series only if:

 

(1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(3) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

 

(4) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;

 

57


(5) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Company;

 

(6) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

(7) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) 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 of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;

 

(8) in the event of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

 

(9) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article Twelve have been complied with. Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article Twelve.

 

Section 1204. Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article Twelve. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the defeased series.

 

Section 1205. Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

 

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such money shall thereupon cease.

 

58


Section 1206. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustees and the Holders against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

 

Section 1207. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article Twelve by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Twelve until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article Twelve.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

Subordination

 

Section 1301. Agreement of Securityholders that Securities Subordinated to Extent Provided. The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees and each Holder of the Securities by his or her acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees that the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness. The provisions of this Article shall constitute a continuing offer to all persons who, in reliance upon such provisions, become holders of, or continue to hold, Senior Indebtedness, and such provisions are made for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and such holders are hereby made obligees hereunder the same as if their names were written herein as such, and the and/or each of them may proceed to enforce such provisions.

 

Section 1302. Company Not to Make Payments With Respect to Securities in Certain Circumstances.

 

(a) Upon the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness by lapse of time, acceleration or otherwise, all principal thereof and premium, if any, and interest thereon shall first be paid in full, or such payment duly provided for in cash or in a manner satisfactory to the holder or holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment is made on account of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities or to acquire any of the Securities or on account of any sinking fund (except sinking fund payments made in Securities acquired by the Company before the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness).

 

(b) Upon the happening of (i) an event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, as such event of default is defined therein or in the instrument under which it is outstanding, permitting the holders to accelerate the maturity thereof, or (ii) an event which, with the giving of notice, or lapse of time, or both, would constitute such an event of default, then, unless and until such event shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal of or premium, if any, or

 

59


interest on the Securities or to acquire any of the Securities or on account of any sinking fund for the Securities (except sinking fund payments made in Securities acquired by the Company before such default and notice thereof).

 

(c) In the event that notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 1302 the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee on account of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, or on account of any sinking fund, or the Holders of the Securities shall receive any such payment, after the happening of a default in payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on Senior Indebtedness, then, unless and until such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, such payment (subject to the provisions of Section 1206) shall be held by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, as the case may be, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata as to each of such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by them) or their representatives or the trustee under the indenture or other agreement (if any) pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full in accordance with the terms of such Senior Indebtedness, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any default under any Senior Indebtedness or under any agreement pursuant to which Senior Indebtedness may have been issued.

 

Section 1303. Securities Subordinated to Prior Payments of All Senior Indebtedness on Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization of the Company. Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise):

 

(a) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof, premium, if any, and interest due thereon before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (other than from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Article Twelve hereof and other than a payment or distribution in the form of Junior Securities);

 

(b) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Article Twelve hereof and other than a payment or distribution in the form of Junior Securities), to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustees would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Twelve, shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or other trustee or agent, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution or provision therefor to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness;

 

60


(c) in the event that notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1303, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Article Twelve hereof and other than a payment or distribution in the form of Junior Securities), shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities on account of principal, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or effective provisions made for its payment, such payment or distribution (subject to the provisions of Section 1306 and Section 1307) shall be received and held in trust for and shall be paid over to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid or unprovided for or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, for application to the payment of such Senior Indebtedness until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution or provision therefor to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 1304. Securityholders to be Subrogated to Right of Holders of Senior Indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of assets of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Securities shall be paid in full, and for the purpose of such subrogation no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of the Holders of the Securities by virtue of this Article which otherwise would have been made to the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of this Article Thirteen are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

 

Section 1305. Obligation of the Company Unconditional. Nothing contained in this Article Thirteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair as between the Company and the Holders of the Securities, the obligations of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Thirteen of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Thirteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any

 

61


distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Thirteen.

 

Section 1306. Trustee Entitled to Assume Payments Not Prohibited in Absence of Notice. The Trustee shall not at any time be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or from one or more holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, shall be entitled to assume conclusively that no such facts exist.

 

Section 1307. Application by Trustee of Monies Deposited With It. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, any deposit of monies by the Company with the Trustee or any paying agent (whether or not in trust) for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities shall be subject to the provisions of Section 1301, Section 1302, Section 1303 and Section 1304 except that, if prior to the date on which by the terms of this Indenture any such monies may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on any Security) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such monies the notice provided for in Section 1306, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such date.

 

Section 1308. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of Company or Holders of Senior Indebtedness. No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.

 

Section 1309. Securityholders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities. Each Holder of the Securities by his or her acceptance thereof authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Thirteen and appoints the Trustee his/her attorney-in-fact for such purpose, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of the Company, the immediate filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its or his or her Securities in the form required in said proceedings and cause said claim to be approved. If the trustee does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in such proceeding prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or claims, then the holder or holders of the Senior Indebtedness are hereby authorized to and have the right to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the holders of said Securities.

 

62


Section 1310. Right of Trustee to Hold Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall be entitled to all of the rights set forth in this Article Twelve in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in Section 613 or elsewhere in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

Section 1311. Article Thirteen Not to Prevent Events of Default. The failure to make a payment on account of principal, interest or sinking fund by reason of any provision of this Article Thirteen shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 501.

 

 

63


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

   

PLAINS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION COMPANY

   

By

 

 


       

Name:

       

Title:

Attest:

       

 


       
   

                                                                                      , as Trustee

   

By

 

 


       

Name:

       

Title:

Attest:

       

 


       


___________

  )     
    )    ss:

___________

  )     

 

On the              day of                         ,          before me personally came, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at                                                      ; that he is                                               of Plains Exploration & Production Company, one of the parties described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to that instrument is such corporate seal; that it was affixed by authority of the board of directors of the corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.

 

 


Name

 

 


[Notarial Seal]


 

STATE OF NEW YORK

  )     
    )    ss:

COUNTY OF NEW YORK

  )     

 

On the              day of                     ,          before me personally came, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at                                              ; that he is of                                              , one of the parties described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to that instrument is such corporate seal; that it was affixed by authority of the board of directors of the corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.

 

 


Name

 

 


[Notarial Seal]

EX-5.1 5 dex51.htm OPINION OF AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

[AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP LETTERHEAD]

 

EXHIBIT 5.1

 

January 20, 2004

 

Plains Exploration & Production Company

700 Milam, Suite 3100

Houston, Texas 77002

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Plains Exploration & Production Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of the offering and sale from time to time, as set forth in the Registration Statement, the form of prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”), and one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”), of up to $300,000,000 aggregate amount of (i) unsecured senior debt securities (the “Senior Debt Securities”) and unsecured subordinated debt securities (the “Subordinated Debt Securities” and, together with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”) of the Company, (ii) guarantees by the Subsidiary Guarantors listed in the Registration Statement of the Debt Securities (the “Guarantees”), (iii) common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), (iv) preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”) which may be issued in the form of depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Shares”), (v) warrants of the Company to purchase Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares (the “Warrants”), (vi) stock purchase contracts to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares (the “Purchase Contracts”), and (vii) stock purchase units, each representing ownership of Purchase Contracts and debt securities, preferred securities, warrants or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing a holder’s obligation to purchase the securities under the Purchase Contracts (the “Stock Purchase Units” and, together with the Debt Securities, Guarantees, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants and Purchase Contracts, the “Securities”), each on terms to be determined at the time of each offering. The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Senior Indenture”) between the Company and a trustee to be named therein. The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Senior Indenture, the “Indentures”) between the Company and a trustee to be named therein.


[AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP LETTERHEAD]

 

Plains Exploration & Production Company

January 20, 2004

Page 2

 

We have examined originals or certified copies of such corporate records of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors and other certificates and documents of officials of the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors, public officials and others as we have deemed appropriate for the purposes of this letter. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed and certified or reproduced copies.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth hereinafter, we are of the opinion that:

 

  1. With respect to the Debt Securities and the Guarantees, when (i) the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have taken all necessary action to approve the issuance of such Debt Securities and Guarantees, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, (ii) the Debt Securities and Guarantees have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture, (iii) the Debt Securities and Guarantees have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable definitive underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Company upon payment (or delivery) of the consideration therefore provided for therein, (iv) the Supplemental Indenture has been duly executed and delivered, and (v) applicable provisions of the “blue sky” laws have been complied with,

 

  (a) the Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued (a) upon exchange or conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock that are exchangeable or convertible into Debt Securities, (b) upon the exercise of any Warrants exercisable for Debt Securities or (c) as part of Stock Purchase Units) will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company and will be entitled to the benefits of the applicable Indenture; and

 

  (b) the Guarantees will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Subsidiary Guarantors, and will be valid and binding obligations of the each Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

  2. With respect to the Common Stock, when (i) the Company has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance of such Common Stock, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and (ii) such Common Stock has been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable definitive underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Company upon payment (or delivery) of the


[AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP LETTERHEAD]

 

Plains Exploration & Production Company

January 20, 2004

Page 3

 

consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Common Stock) provided for therein, such Common Stock (including any shares of Common Stock issued (a) upon exercise of any Warrants for Common Stock, (b) upon conversion of any Debt Securities that are convertible or exchangeable for Common Stock, (c) pursuant to Purchase Contracts, or (d) upon the exchange or conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock that are exchangeable or convertible into Common Stock) will have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  3. With respect to shares of any series of Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares (if applicable), when (i) the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the shares of such series, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of a resolution establishing and designating such series and fixing and determining the preferences, limitations and relative rights thereof, (ii) the proper officers of the Company have duly executed and caused to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, prior to the issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares (if applicable), a certificate of designations setting forth the resolution of the Board establishing the relative rights and distinguishing characteristics for such series of Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares (if applicable), and (iii) certificates representing the shares of such series of Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares (if applicable) have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (a) in accordance with the applicable definitive underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares) provided for therein, or (b) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such Security providing for such conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, the shares of such series of Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares (if applicable) will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  4. With respect to the Warrants, when (i) a Warrant Agreement relating to the Warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, (ii) the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants so as not to violate any applicable law 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 or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, and (iii) the Warrants


[AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP LETTERHEAD]

 

Plains Exploration & Production Company

January 20, 2004

Page 4

 

have been duly executed and countersigned in accordance with the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants, and issued and sold in the form and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

  5. With respect to the Purchase Contracts, when (i) a Purchase Contract Agreement relating to the Purchase Contracts (the “Purchase Contract Agreement”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, (ii) the terms of the Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Purchase Contract Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law 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 or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, and (iii) the Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and issued in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement relating to such Purchase Contracts, and issued and sold in the form and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

  6. With respect to the Stock Purchase Units, when (i) a Purchase Contract Agreement relating to the Purchase Contracts comprising a part of the Stock Purchase Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, (ii) the terms of the Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Purchase Contract Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law 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 or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii) the terms of the collateral arrangements relating to such Stock Purchase Units have been duly established and the agreement(s) relating thereto have been duly executed and delivered, in each case so as not to violate any applicable law 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 or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company and the collateral has been deposited with the collateral agent in accordance with such arrangements, and (iv) the Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and issued in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement relating to such Purchase Contracts, and issued and sold in the form and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and


[AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP LETTERHEAD]

 

Plains Exploration & Production Company

January 20, 2004

Page 5

 

any prospectus supplement relating thereto, such Stock Purchase Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to the following:

 

  A. We have assumed that (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded, (ii) a Prospectus Supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby, (iii) all Securities will have been issued and sold in compliance with applicable United States federal and state securities Laws (hereinafter defined) and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, (iv) a definitive underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto and (v) at the time of the issuance of the Securities (a) each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors validly exists and is duly qualified and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation, (b) each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors has the necessary corporate power and due authorization, as applicable, and (c) the organizational or charter documents of each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are in full force and effect and have not been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise altered, and there has been no authorization of any such amendment, restatement, supplement or other alteration, since the date hereof.

 

  B. We express no opinion as to any laws of any jurisdiction other than any published constitutions, treaties, laws rules or regulations or judicial or administrative decisions (“Laws”) of (i) the federal Laws of the United States, (ii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and (iii) the Laws of the State of New York.

 

  C. This law firm is a registered limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Texas.

 

  D. The matters expressed in this letter are subject to and qualified and limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally; (ii) general principles of equity, including principles of


[AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP LETTERHEAD]

 

Plains Exploration & Production Company

January 20, 2004

Page 6

 

commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity); (iii) commercial reasonableness and unconscionability and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (iv) the power of the courts to award damages in lieu of equitable remedies; and (v) securities Laws and public policy underlying such Laws with respect to rights to indemnification and contribution. We express no opinion as to the enforceability of Section 5.15 of each Indenture.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. We also consent to your filing copies of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/    AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP

 

AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP

EX-12.1 6 dex121.htm CALCULATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Calculation of Earnings to Fixed Charges

EXHIBIT 12.1

 

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(Dollar Amounts in Thousands)

 

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


    Year Ended December 31,

 
    Proforma
2003 (1)


    2003

    2002

   

Proforma

2002 (2)


    2002

    2001

    2000

    1999

    1998

 

Net Income

  $ 44,692     $ 41,495     $ 21,500     $ 38,966     $ 26,237     $ 53,171     $ 28,749     $ 19,105     $ (19,034 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

    (12,324 )     (12,324 )     —         —         —         1,522       —         —         —    

Provision for Income taxes

    22,261       22,792       13,757       24,977       16,732       34,388       16,765       5,332       (7,075 )

Fixed charges (see below)

    24,567       19,544       16,455       32,857       21,994       20,707       19,806       18,588       11,971  

Interest capitalized

    (3,576 )     (2,021 )     (1,873 )     (6,067 )     (2,387 )     (3,145 )     (3,818 )     (3,592 )     (3,056 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total adjusted earnings available for payment of fixed charges

  $ 75,620     $ 69,486     $ 49,839     $ 90,733     $ 62,576     $ 106,643     $ 61,502     $ 39,433     $ (17,194 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

    3.1       3.6       3.0       2.8       2.9       5.2       3.1       2.1       (3 )

Fixed Charges

                                                                       

Interest expense

  $ 20,427     $ 17,130     $ 14,427     $ 26,167     $ 19,377     $ 17,411     $ 15,885     $ 14,912     $ 8,828  

Interest capitalized

    3,576       2,021       1,873       6,067       2,387       3,145       3,818       3,592       3,056  

Rental expense representative of interest factor

    564       393       155       623       230       151       103       84       87  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total fixed charges

  $ 24,567     $ 19,544     $ 16,455     $ 32,857     $ 21,994     $ 20,707     $ 19,806     $ 18,588     $ 11,971  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 



(1) Reflects the effect of Plains Exploration & Production Company’s (“Plains”) issuance of $75.0 million of 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2012 on May 30, 2003 and Plains acquisition of 3TEC Energy Corporation (“3TEC”) on June 4, 2003. Unaudited proforma consolidated financial statements are included in Plains' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 20, 2004.
(2) Reflects the effect of (i) Plains Resources Inc.’s contribution to Plains on July 3, 2002 of the capital stock of certain of Plains Resources’ subsidiary companies and all amounts payable to it by Plains and its subsidiary companies; (ii) Plains issuance of $200.0 million of 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2012 on July 3, 2002; (iii) the distribution by Plains Resources on December 18, 2002 of all the issued and outstanding shares of Plains common stock to the holders of Plains Resources common stock; (iv) Plains issuance of $75.0 million of 8.75% senior subordinated notes due 2012 on May 30, 2003; and (v) Plains acquisition of 3TEC on June 4, 2003. Unaudited proforma consolidated financial statements are included in Plains' Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 20, 2004.
(3) In the year ended December 31, 1998, total fixed charges exceeded total adjusted earnings available for payment of fixed charges by $29,165,000.
EX-23.2 7 dex232.htm CONSENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

EXHIBIT 23.2

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 10, 2003 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Plains Exploration & Production Company, which appears in the Company’s filing on Form S-4 (333-108407). We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in this Registration Statement.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Houston, Texas

January 20, 2004

EX-23.3 8 dex233.htm CONSENT OF KPMG LLP Consent of KPMG LLP

Exhibit 23.3

 

Independent Auditors’ Consent

 

The Board of Directors

Plains Exploration & Production Company:

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Plains Exploration & Production Company of our report dated February 14, 2003, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of 3TEC Energy Corporation as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, which report appears in the Registration Statement (333-108407) on Form S-4 of Plains Exploration & Production Company dated August 29, 2003, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

Our report refers to a change in the method of accounting for derivative instruments, effective January 1, 2001.

 

 

/s/    KPMG LLP

 

 

Houston, Texas

January 19, 2004

EX-23.4 9 dex234.htm CONSENT OF NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC. Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

[LOGO – NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.]

 

Exhibit No. 23.4

 

CONSENT OF NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Plains Exploration & Production Company to the references to our firm and to the use of its reserve reports as of December 31, 1999; January 1, 2000; December 31, 2000; January 1, 2001; December 31, 2001; January 1, 2002; and January 1, 2003 setting forth the interests of Plains Exploration & Production Company and its subsidiaries, and Arguello Inc., relating to the estimated quantities of such companies’ proved reserves of oil and gas and present values thereof for the periods included therein.

 

 

NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.
By:  

/s/    J. CARTER HENSON, JR.

 
   

J. Carter Henson, Jr.

Senior Vice President

 

Houston, Texas

January 20, 2004

 

EX-23.5 10 dex235.htm CONSENT OF RYDER SCOTT COMPANY Consent of Ryder Scott Company

[RYDER SCOTT COMPANY LETTERHEAD]

 

Exhibit No. 23.5

 

Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.

 

As independent oil and gas consultants, Ryder Scott Company, L.P. hereby consents to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about January 20, 2004, of information from our reserve reports for Plains Exploration and Production Company and subsidiaries and 3TEC Energy Corporation as of December 31, 2002, December 31, 2001, and December 31, 2000. We further consent to references to our firm under the headings “Experts.”

 

/s/    RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.


RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.

 

Houston, Texas

January 20, 2004

EX-23.6 11 dex236.htm CONSENT OF H.J. GRUY & ASSOCIATES, INC. Consent of H.J. Gruy & Associates, Inc.

[H.J. GRUY AND ASSOCIATES LETTERHEAD]

 

EXHIBIT 23.6

 

CONSENT OF H.J. GRUY AND ASSOCIATES, INC.

 

We hereby consent to the use of the name H.J. Gruy and Associates, Inc. and of references to H.J. Gruy and Associates, Inc. and to the inclusion of and references to our reports, or information contained therein, dated March 10, 2000, and dated March 9, 2001, prepared for Stocker Resources, Inc. in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Plains Exploration & Production Company for the filing dated on or about January 20, 2004.

 

H.J. GRUY AND ASSOCIATES, INC.

Texas Registration Number F-000637

By:  

/s/    Sylvia Castilleja

 
   

Sylvia Castilleja, P.E.

Vice President

 

January 19, 2004

Houston, Texas

-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----