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Registration No.
333-133194
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Wisconsin | 39-1775292 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
700 North Adams Street |
P.O. Box 19001 |
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54307-9001 |
(920) 433-4901 |
(Address, including zip code, and |
telephone number, including area code, of |
registrants principal executive offices) |
Barth J. Wolf |
Secretary and Manager-Legal Services |
WPS Resources Corporation |
700 North Adams Street |
P.O. Box 19001 |
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54307-9001 |
(920) 433-1727 |
(Name, address, including zip code, |
and telephone number, including area code, |
of agent for service) |
with a copy to:
Russell E. Ryba
Foley & Lardner LLP
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202
(414) 297-5668
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: FROM TIME TO TIME AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: |_|
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: |X|
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: |_|
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: |_|
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box: |X|
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box: |_|
_________________
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of Registration Fee |
Debt Securities | $300,000,000 | N/A | $300,000,000 | $32,100 |
Common Stock | (2) | (2) | (2) | (2) |
Common Stock Purchase Rights (3) | (2) | (2) | (2) | (2) |
Stock Purchase Contracts | (2) | (2) | (2) | (2) |
Stock Purchase Units (4) | (2) | (2) | (2) | (2) |
Warrants to Purchase Common Stock | (2) | (2) | (2) | (2) |
Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities | (2) | (2) | (2) | (2) |
Trust Preferred Securities (5) | (2) | (2) | (2) | (2) |
Guarantees (6) | (2) | (2) | (2) | (2) |
TOTAL | $300,000,000 | N/A | $300,000,000 | $10,382 (2) |
(1) | Estimated for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) and Rule 457(r). Exclusive of accrued interest, if any. This registration statement also registers an additional indeterminate amount of debt securities, as set forth in footnote 2 below. |
(2) | Except as set forth in footnote 1 above, an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee, except for $32,100 that is being paid with this post-effective amendment No. 1 to the registration statement (pursuant to Rule 457(p), the Registrant has offset $21,718 that has already been paid with respect to $202,980,000 aggregate initial offering price of securities that were previously registered pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-124446 and were not sold thereunder against the amount of the registration filing fee being paid with the post-effective amendment. |
(3) | The Common Stock Purchase Rights are attached to and traded with the shares of Common Stock being registered. The value attributable to the Common Stock Purchase Rights, if any, is reflected in the value attributable to the Common Stock. |
(4) | Each stock purchase unit consists of (a) a stock purchase contract under which the holder, upon settlement, will purchase or sell an indeterminate number of shares of common stock and (b) common stock, debt securities other stock purchase contracts or debt obligations of third parties securing the holders obligation to purchase or sell the securities subject to the stock purchase contract. No separate consideration will be received for the stock purchase contract or the related pledged securities. |
(5) | Trust preferred securities will be issued by trusts which may be formed in the future. |
(6) | No separate consideration will be received for the guarantees. |
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-133194 (the "Form S-3"), is being filed solely:
(1) to amend the Summary Where You Can Find More Information subsection of the prospectus that is part of the Form S-3 to expressly incorporate by reference (a) the consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedules of Peoples Energy Corporation included in Peoples Energy Corporations current report on Form 8-K dated and filed June 30, 2006, (b) managements report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Peoples Energy Corporation included in Peoples Energy Corporations annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended September 30, 2005, and (c) the consolidated financial statements of Peoples Energy Corporation included in Peoples Energy Corporations quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 2005 (as updated by Peoples Energy Corporations current report on Form 8-K dated and filed June 30, 2006), March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006;
(2) to amend the Experts section of the prospectus that is part of the Form S-3, in connection with the above incorporation by reference;
(3) to file the related consents of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, in connection with the above incorporation by reference; and
(4) to file the Subordinated Indenture dated as of November 13, 2006 between us and U.S. Bank National Association as Trustee.
* * *
1. The Summary Where You Can Find More Information subsection of the Form S-3 is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We also filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement, but does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. You may read and copy the registration statement and any other document we file at the Commissions public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our Securities and Exchange Commission filings are also available to the public at the Commissions web site at http://www.sec.gov or on our website located at http://www.wpsr.com.
The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the Commission will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference (a) the consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedules of Peoples Energy Corporation included in Peoples Energy Corporations current report on Form 8-K dated and filed June 30, 2006, (b) managements report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Peoples Energy Corporation included in Peoples Energy Corporations annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended September 30, 2005, and (c) the consolidated financial statements of Peoples Energy Corporation included in Peoples Energy Corporations quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 2005 (as updated by Peoples Energy Corporations current report on Form 8-K dated and filed June 30, 2006), March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006. We also incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until our offering is completed.
3
WPS Resources SEC Filings (File No. 001-11337) |
Filing Date |
---|---|
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 |
February 28, 2006 |
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 |
May 4, 2006 |
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 |
August 3, 2006 |
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 |
November 2, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 2006 |
February 13, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 9, 2006 |
June 15, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 1, 2006 |
July 5, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 8, 2006 |
July 11, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 10, 2006 |
July 10, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 12, 2006 |
July 12, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 13, 2006 |
July 14, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 9, 2006, revising indicated sections of WPS | |
Resources Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the March | |
31, 2006 Form 10-Q for the impact of discontinued operations | August 9, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 21, 2006 |
September 27, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 3, 2006 |
October 3, 2006 |
Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 21, 2006 |
November 21, 2006 |
Definitive Proxy Statement for 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders |
April 7, 2006 |
Definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus for Special Shareholder Meetings of WPS | |
Resources on December 6, 2006 and Peoples Energy on December 6, 2006 | October 17, 2006 |
Description of Common Stock contained in Registration Statement on Form 8-B |
June 1, 1994 |
Description of Common Stock Purchase Rights contained in Registration Statement on Form 8-A |
December 13, 1996 |
4
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at our principal executive offices:
WPS
Resources Corporation Attn: Secretary 700 North Adams Street P.O. Box 19001 Green Bay, Wisconsin 54307-9001 (920) 433-1727 |
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with 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 other offering material is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the prospectus, the prospectus supplement or other offering material.
2. The Experts section of the Form S-3 is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
The consolidated financial statements, the related financial statement schedules, and managements report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated in this prospectus by reference from WPS Resources current report on Form 8-K dated and filed August 9, 2006, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports (which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules and include an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of new accounting principles, (2) express an unqualified opinion on managements assessment regarding the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and (3) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting), which are incorporated herein by reference and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Peoples Energys current report on Form 8-K dated and filed June 30, 2006, and managements report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Peoples Energys annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended September 30, 2005, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
5
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Green Bay, State of Wisconsin, on November 27, 2006.
WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION | |
By: /s/ Larry L. Weyers | |
Larry L. Weyers | |
Chairman, President and | |
Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name | Capacity |
Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and | |
/s/ Larry L. Weyers | Director* |
Larry L. Weyers | |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
/s/ Joseph P. OLeary | (Principal Financial Officer)* |
Joseph P. OLeary | |
Vice President-Controller and Chief Accounting | |
/s/ Diane L. Ford | Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)* |
Diane L. Ford | |
Ellen Carnahan + |
Director |
Richard A. Bemis + | Director |
Albert J. Budney, Jr. + | Director |
Robert C. Gallagher + | Director |
Kathryn Hasselblad-Pascale + | Director |
James L. Kemerling + | Director |
John C. Meng + | Director |
William F. Protz, Jr. + | Director |
+By: | /s/ Larry L. Weyers
Larry L. Weyers Attorney-in-Fact* |
* Each of the above signatures is affixed as of November 27, 2006.
II-1
Exhibit Number |
Document Description |
(1)(a) | Proposed Form of Underwriting Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1)(a) to Registration Statement No. 333-88525 filed on October 6, 1999). |
(1)(b) | Proposed Form of Distribution Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (1)(b) to Registration Statement No. 333-88525 filed on October 6, 1999). |
(3) | By-laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2004, filed May 6, 2004, [File No. 1-11337]). |
(4)(a) | Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(i).2 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2002, filed November 14, 2002 [File No. 1-11337]). |
(4)(b) | Senior Indenture dated as of October 1, 1999, between us and U.S. Bank National Association (f/k/a Firstar Bank, National Association) as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(b) to Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-88525 filed on October 21, 1999); First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 1, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4A to Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 12, 1999 [File No. 1-11337]); and Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 1, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4A to Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 25, 2002 [File No. 1-11337]). |
(4)(c) | Subordinated Indenture dated as of November 13, 2006, between us and U.S. Bank National Association as Trustee. |
(4)(d) | Forms of Supplemental Indentures to Senior Indenture (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(4)(e) | Forms of Supplemental Indentures to Subordinated Indenture (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(4)(f) | Forms of Debt Securities (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(4)(g) | Rights Agreement, dated December 12, 1996, between WPS Resources Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association (successor to Firstar Trust Company) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4-1 to Form 8-A filed December 13, 1996 [File No. 1-11337]). |
(4)(h) | Amendment to Rights Agreement, effective as of October 9, 2002, by and among WPS Resources Corporation, U.S. Bank National Association and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4)(h) to Registration Statement No. 333-104787 filed on April 28, 2003). |
(4)(i) | Form of Warrant (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(4)(j) | Form of Warrant Agreement (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(4)(k) | Form of Stock Purchase Contract (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(4)(l) | Certificates of Trust (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(4)(m) | Declarations of Trust (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(4)(n) | Form of Trust Preferred Security (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
II-2
(4)(o) | Form of Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(5)(a) | Opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP.* |
(5)(b) | Opinion of Special Counsel Relating to Trust Preferred Securities (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(12) | Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12.1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed February 28, 2006 [File No. 1-11337]). |
(23)(a) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for us. |
(23)(b) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Peoples Energy Corporation. |
(23)(b) | Consent of Foley & Lardner LLP (included in Exhibit 5(a)).* |
(23)(c) | Consent of Special Counsel (included in Exhibit 5(b)). |
(24) | Powers of Attorney.* |
(25)(a) | Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of U.S. Bank National Association to act as Trustee under the Senior Indenture dated October 1, 1999.* |
(25)(b) | Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of the Subordinated Trustee to Act as Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture. |
(25)(c) | Statements of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of the Trustee(s) to Act as Trustee under the Declarations of Trust (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
(25)(d) | Statements of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of the Trustee(s) to Act as Trustee under our Guarantees for the Benefit of the Holders of Trust Preferred Securities (to be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference). |
*Filed previously
II-3
WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION
AS ISSUER
TO
US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AS TRUSTEE
_________________
INDENTURE
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 13, 2006
_________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE | |
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY |
1 |
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION | 2 | |
SECTION 1.01. | Definitions | 2 |
(a) | ACT, | 2 |
(b) | AFFILIATE | 2 |
(c) | AUTHENTICATING AGENT | 2 |
(d) | BANKRUPTCY LAW | 2 |
(e) | BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 2 |
(f) | BOARD RESOLUTION | 3 |
(g) | BUSINESS DAY, | 3 |
(h) | COMMISSION | 3 |
(i) | COMPANY | 3 |
(j) | COMPANY REQUEST or COMPANY ORDER | 3 |
(k) | CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE | 3 |
(l) | COVENANT DEFEASANCE | 3 |
(m) | CUSTODIAN | 3 |
(n) | DEBT | 3 |
(o) | DEFAULT | 3 |
(p) | DEFAULTED INTEREST | 4 |
(q) | DEFEASANCE | 4 |
(r) | DEPOSITARY | 4 |
(s) | DOLLARS and $ | 4 |
(t) | EVENT OF DEFAULT | 4 |
(u) | EXCHANGE ACT | 4 |
(v) | GAAP | 4 |
(w) | GLOBAL SECURITY | 4 |
(x) | HOLDER or SECURITY HOLDER | 4 |
(y) | INDENTURE | 4 |
(z) | INTEREST, | 4 |
(aa) | INTEREST PAYMENT DATE, | 4 |
(bb) | MATURITY, | 4 |
(cc) | OFFICER | 5 |
(dd) | OFFICERS CERTIFICATE | 5 |
(ee) | OPINION OF COUNSEL | 5 |
(ff) | ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY | 5 |
(gg) | OUTSTANDING, | 5 |
(hh) | PAYING AGENT | 6 |
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PAGE | ||
(ii) |
PERSON | 6 |
(jj) | PLACE OF PAYMENT, | 6 |
(kk) | PREDECESSOR SECURITIES, | 6 |
(ll) | REDEMPTION DATE, | 6 |
(mm) | REDEMPTION PRICE, | 6 |
(nn) | REGULAR RECORD DATE | 6 |
(oo) | RESPONSIBLE OFFICER, | 6 |
(pp) | SECURITIES | 6 |
(qq) | SECURITY REGISTER and SECURITY REGISTRAR | 7 |
(rr) | SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS | 7 |
(ss) | SPECIAL RECORD DATE | 7 |
(tt) | STATED MATURITY, | 7 |
(uu) | SUBSIDIARY | 7 |
(vv) | TRUST INDENTURE ACT | 7 |
(ww) | TRUSTEE | 7 |
(xx) | U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS | 8 |
(yy) | VICE PRESIDENT, | 8 |
SECTION 1.02. | Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 8 |
SECTION 1.03. | Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee | 9 |
SECTION 1.04. | Acts of Holders | 9 |
SECTION 1.05. | Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company | 10 |
SECTION 1.06. | Notice to Holders; Waiver | 10 |
SECTION 1.07. | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act | 11 |
SECTION 1.08. | Effect of Headings and Table of Contents | 11 |
SECTION 1.09. | Successors and Assigns | 11 |
SECTION 1.10. | Separability Clause | 11 |
SECTION 1.11. | Benefits of Indenture | 11 |
SECTION 1.12. | Governing Law | 12 |
SECTION 1.13. | Legal Holidays | 12 |
SECTION 1.14. | No Recourse Against Others | 12 |
ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS |
13 | |
SECTION 2.01. | Forms Generally | 13 |
SECTION 2.02. | Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication | 13 |
SECTION 2.03. | Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security | 13 |
SECTION 2.04. | CUSIP Number | 15 |
SECTION 2.05. | Payment of Securities | 16 |
ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES |
17 | |
SECTION 3.01. | Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 17 |
SECTION 3.02. | Denominations | 19 |
SECTION 3.03. | Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 19 |
SECTION 3.04. | Temporary Securities | 21 |
SECTION 3.05. | Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 21 |
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PAGE | ||
SECTION 3.06. |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 22 |
SECTION 3.07. | Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved | 23 |
SECTION 3.08. | Persons Deemed Owners | 24 |
SECTION 3.09. | Cancellation | 25 |
SECTION 3.10. | Computation of Interest | 25 |
ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
26 | |
SECTION 4.01. | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 26 |
SECTION 4.02. | Application of Trust Money | 27 |
ARTICLE V REMEDIES |
28 | |
SECTION 5.01. | Events of Default | 28 |
SECTION 5.02. | Acceleration of Maturity and Rescission | 29 |
SECTION 5.03. | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 30 |
SECTION 5.04. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 30 |
SECTION 5.05. | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities | 31 |
SECTION 5.06. | Application of Money Collected | 31 |
SECTION 5.07. | Limitation on Suits | 32 |
SECTION 5.08. | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest | 32 |
SECTION 5.09. | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 33 |
SECTION 5.10. | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 33 |
SECTION 5.11. | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 33 |
SECTION 5.12. | Control by Holders | 33 |
SECTION 5.13. | Waiver of Past Defaults | 34 |
SECTION 5.14. | Undertaking for Costs | 34 |
SECTION 5.15. | Waiver of Stay or Extension | 34 |
ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE |
36 | |
SECTION 6.01. | Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee | 36 |
SECTION 6.02. | Notice of Defaults | 36 |
SECTION 6.03. | Certain Rights of Trustee | 36 |
SECTION 6.04. | Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities | 37 |
SECTION 6.05. | May Hold Securities | 37 |
SECTION 6.06. | Money Held in Trust | 38 |
SECTION 6.07. | Compensation and Reimbursement | 38 |
SECTION 6.08. | Disqualification; Conflicting Interests | 38 |
SECTION 6.09. | Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility | 39 |
SECTION 6.10. | Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor | 39 |
SECTION 6.11. | Acceptance of Appointment by Successor | 40 |
SECTION 6.12. | Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business | 41 |
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PAGE | ||
SECTION 6.13. |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 42 |
SECTION 6.14. | Appointment of Authenticating Agent | 42 |
ARTICLE VII HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY |
44 | |
SECTION 7.01. | Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders | 44 |
SECTION 7.02. | Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders | 44 |
SECTION 7.03. | Reports by Trustee | 45 |
SECTION 7.04. | Reports by Company | 45 |
ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, LEASE, SALE OR TRANSFER |
47 | |
SECTION 8.01. | Then Company May Merge, Etc | 47 |
SECTION 8.02. | Opinion of Counsel | 47 |
SECTION 8.03. | Successor Corporation Substituted | 47 |
ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
48 | |
SECTION 9.01. | Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders | 48 |
SECTION 9.02. | Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders | 49 |
SECTION 9.03. | Execution of Supplemental Indentures | 50 |
SECTION 9.04. | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 50 |
SECTION 9.05. | Conformity with Trust Indenture Act | 50 |
SECTION 9.06. | Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures | 50 |
ARTICLE X COVENANTS |
51 | |
SECTION 10.01. | Payments of Principal and Interest | 51 |
SECTION 10.02. | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 51 |
SECTION 10.03. | Corporate Existence | 51 |
SECTION 10.04. | Payment of Taxes and Other Claims | 51 |
SECTION 10.05. | Maintenance of Properties | 52 |
SECTION 10.06. | Certificates Respecting Defaults | 52 |
SECTION 10.07. | Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust | 52 |
ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES |
54 | |
SECTION 11.01. | Applicability of Article | 54 |
SECTION 11.02. | Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee | 54 |
SECTION 11.03. | Election by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed | 54 |
SECTION 11.04. | Notice of Redemption | 55 |
SECTION 11.05. | Deposit of Redemption Price | 55 |
SECTION 11.06. | Securities Payable on Redemption Date | 56 |
SECTION 11.07. | Securities Redeemed in Part | 56 |
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PAGE | ||
ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS |
57 | |
SECTION 12.01. | Applicability of Article | 57 |
SECTION 12.02. | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 57 |
SECTION 12.03. | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 57 |
ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
58 | |
SECTION 13.01. | Applicability of Article; Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. | 58 |
SECTION 13.02. | Defeasance and Discharge | 58 |
SECTION 13.03. | Covenant Defeasance | 58 |
SECTION 13.04. | Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 59 |
SECTION 13.05. | Deposited Money and Government Obligations To Be Held In Trust | 60 |
ARTICLE XIV SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES |
62 | |
SECTION 14.01. | Agreement to Subordinate | 62 |
SECTION 14.02. | Default on Senior Indebtedness | 62 |
SECTION 14.03. | Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy | 63 |
SECTION 14.04. | Subrogation | 64 |
SECTION 14.05. | Trustee to Effectuate Subordination | 65 |
SECTION 14.06. | Notice by the Company | 65 |
SECTION 14.07. | Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness | 66 |
SECTION 14.08. | Subordination May Not Be Impaired | 66 |
ARTICLE XV MISCELLANEOUS |
67 | |
SECTION 15.01. | Miscellaneous | 67 |
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WPS RESOURCES
CORPORATION
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939
and Indenture,
dated as of November 13, 2006
Trust Indenture Act Section |
Indenture Section |
Section 310 (a) (1) | 6.09 |
(a) (2) | 6.09 |
(a) (3) | Not Applicable |
(a) (4) | Not Applicable |
(a) (5) | 6.09 |
(b) | 6.08, 6.10 |
Section 311 (a) | 6.13 |
(b) | 6.13 |
Section 312 (a) | 7.01(a), 7.02(a) |
(b) | 7.02(b) |
(c) | 7.02(c) |
Section 313 (a) | 7.03(a) |
(b) | 7.03(b) |
(c) | 7.03(a), 7.03(b) |
(d) | 7.03(b) |
Section 314 (a) | 7.04 |
(b) | Not Applicable |
(c) (1) | 1.02 |
(c) (2) | 1.02 |
(c) (3) | Not Applicable |
(d) | Not Applicable |
(e) | 1.02 |
Section 315 (a) | 6.01(a) |
(b) | 6.02 |
(c) | 6.01(b) |
(d) | 6.01(c) |
(d) (1) | 6.01(a), 6.01(c) |
(d) (2) | 6.01(c) |
(d) (3) | 6.01(c) |
(e) | 5.14 |
Section 316 (a) (1) (A) | 5.12 |
(a) (1) (B) | 5.02, 5.13 |
(a) (2) | Not Applicable |
(b) | 5.08 |
Section 317 (a) (1) | 5.03 |
(a) (2) | 5.04 |
(b) | 10.07 |
Section 318 (a) | 1.07 |
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of this Indenture.
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INDENTURE, dated as of November 13, 2006, between WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Wisconsin (herein called the COMPANY), having its principal office at 700 North Adams Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301 and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the United States, as Trustee (herein called the TRUSTEE).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the SECURITIES), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, has been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER
PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular; |
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein; |
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP; |
(4) the word INCLUDING (and with correlative meaning INCLUDE) means including, without limiting the generality of, any description preceding such term; and |
(5) the words HEREIN, HEREOF and HEREUNDER and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. |
Certain terms, used principally in Article Seven, are defined in that Article.
(a) ACT, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.
(b) 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.
(c) AUTHENTICATING AGENT means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.
(d) BANKRUPTCY LAW means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
(e) BOARD OF DIRECTORS means the board of directors of the Company; provided, however, that when the context refers to actions or resolutions of the Board of Directors, then the term Board of Directors shall also mean any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors of the Company or Officer authorized to act with respect to any particular matter to exercise the power of the Board of Directors of the Company.
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(f) 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.
(g) BUSINESS DAY, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or regulation to close.
(h) COMMISSION means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
(i) COMPANY means the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter Company shall mean such successor corporation.
(j) COMPANY REQUEST or COMPANY ORDER means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Controller, an Assistant Controller, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
(k) CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as a successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).
(l) COVENANT DEFEASANCE has the meaning specified in Section 13.03.
(m) CUSTODIAN means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
(n) DEBT means any outstanding debt for money borrowed evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other securities or guarantees of any thereof.
(o) DEFAULT means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
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(p) DEFAULTED INTEREST has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
(q) DEFEASANCE has the meaning specified in Section 13.02.
(r) DEPOSITARY shall mean, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered or qualified as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or other applicable statute or regulation.
(s) DOLLARS and $ means lawful money of the United States of America.
(t) EVENT OF DEFAULT has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.
(u) EXCHANGE ACT means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(v) GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the date hereof, applied on a basis consistent with those used in the preparation of any financial statements referred to herein, unless otherwise stated herein.
(w) GLOBAL SECURITY shall mean a Security that, pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.03 hereof, is issued to evidence Securities, that is delivered to the Depositary or pursuant to the instructions of the Depositary and that shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
(x) HOLDER or SECURITY HOLDER means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.
(y) 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 3.01.
(z) 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.
(aa) INTEREST PAYMENT DATE, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
(bb) MATURITY, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
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(cc) OFFICER means the Chairman of the Board, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
(dd) OFFICERS CERTIFICATE means a certificate signed by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee.
(ee) OPINION OF COUNSEL means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
(ff) ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY means any Security, which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.
(gg) 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) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; |
(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; |
(iii) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and |
(iv) Securities which have been defeased pursuant to Section 13.02; |
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be that portion of the principal amount thereof that could be declared to be due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and the continuation thereof pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security as of the date of such determination and (b) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledge establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledges right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
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(hh) 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. The Company may act as Paying Agent with respect to any Securities issued hereunder.
(ii) PERSON means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
(jj) PLACE OF PAYMENT, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01.
(kk) PREDECESSOR SECURITIES, of any particular security means every previous Security evidencing all or any portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for purposes of this definition, any Securities authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in lieu of destroyed, lost, or stolen Securities shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
(ll) REDEMPTION DATE, when used with respect to any Security of any series to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
(mm) REDEMPTION PRICE, when used with respect to any Security of any series to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
(nn) REGULAR RECORD DATE for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.
(oo) RESPONSIBLE OFFICER, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, any assistant vice president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any assistant cashier, any senior trust officer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller or any assistant controller or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
(pp) SECURITIES has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
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(qq) SECURITY REGISTER and SECURITY REGISTRAR have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.
(rr) SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, bankers acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company); except in each case for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or pari passu with the Securities, as the case may be, and (2) any indebtedness from the Company to any Affiliate of the Company.
(ss) SPECIAL RECORD DATE for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.
(tt) 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.
(uu) SUBSIDIARY of a Person means (i) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding securities having ordinary voting power shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) any partnership, association, joint venture or similar business organization of which more than 50% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting power shall at the time be so owned or controlled. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of the Company.
(vv) TRUST INDENTURE ACT means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event that such Act is amended after such date, TRUST INDENTURE ACT means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
(ww) TRUSTEE means the Person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter Trustee shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, Trustee as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
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(xx) U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof or otherwise subject to prepayment, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a New York Clearing House bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment or interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt or from any amount held by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
(yy) VICE PRESIDENT, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title vice president.
SECTION 1.02. 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, other than as action permitted by Sections 2.03 and 7.04, 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 shall include:
(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(b) 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;
(c) 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
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion or each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
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SECTION 1.03. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by a opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an Officer 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 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 1.04. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents 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. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the ACT of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. 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 5.01) 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 of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner, which the Trustee deems sufficient.
(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.
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(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a 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 Act, 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 Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such 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.
SECTION 1.05. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
(i) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee and received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Department or |
(ii) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, attention: Secretary, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company. |
SECTION 1.06. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be deemed sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein or in such Security expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder 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 Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders or the validity of the proceedings to which such notice relates. 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 Holders 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.
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In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.
SECTION 1.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or shall be excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 1.08. 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 1.09. 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 1.10. 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 1.11. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
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SECTION 1.12. Governing Law.
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws (other than the choice of law provisions) of the State of Wisconsin.
SECTION 1.13. Legal Holidays.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day or on such other day as may be set out in the Officers Certificate pursuant to Section 3.01 at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
SECTION 1.14. No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder, by accepting a Security, waives and, releases all such liability. Such waivers and releases are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.
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ARTICLE II
SECURITY
FORMS
SECTION 2.01. Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.
The Trustees certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article.
The definitive Securities shall be photocopied, printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.
Dated: _______________
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
_________________________________________
As
Trustee
By ________________________________________
Authorized Signatory
SECTION 2.03. Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.
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(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof 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 shall, in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof and the Company Order delivered to the Trustee hereunder, authenticate and deliver such Global Security or Securities, which (i) represent, shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and shall have the same terms as, the outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositarys instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: This Security is a Global Security registered in the name of the Depositary (referred to herein) or a nominee thereof and, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Securities represented hereby, this Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Unless this Global Security is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York), to the Trustee for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment is made to Cede & Co., any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein or such other legend as may be required by the rules and regulations of the Depositary.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 3.05 hereof or of this Section 2.03, 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, only as described in the legend thereto.
(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 Global Security shall no longer be eligible or in good standing 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 Companys election pursuant to Section 3.01(3) hereof shall no longer be effective with respect to the series of Securities evidenced by such Global Security and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security, shall 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 the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge or notice of the ineligibility of a Depositary unless a responsible officer assigned to and working in its corporate trustee administration department shall have actual knowledge thereof.
(ii) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that all Outstanding (but not less than all) Securities of a series 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 shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities in exchange for such Global Security, shall authenticate and deliver individual Securities of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security or Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
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(iii) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding two paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver individual Securities in definitive registered form in authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of a Global Security for individual Securities, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. 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. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the persons in whose names such Securities are so registered, or if the Depositary shall refuse or be unable to deliver such Securities, the Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the persons in whose names such Securities are registered, unless otherwise agreed upon between the Trustee and the Company, in which event the Company shall cause the Securities to be delivered to the persons in whose names such Securities are registered.
(d) Neither the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent shall 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 interest.
(e) Pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, at the option of the Trustee and upon 30 days written notice to the Depositary but not prior to the first Interest Payment Date of the respective Global Securities of the same series, the Depositary shall be required to surrender any two or more Global Securities of the same series which have identical terms, including, without limitation, identical maturities, interest rates and redemption provisions to the Trustee, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to, or at the direction of, the Depositary a Global Security of the same series in principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and with all terms identical to, the Global Securities surrendered thereto. The exchange contemplated in this subsection shall be consummated at least 30 days prior to any Interest Payment date applicable to any of the Global Securities surrendered to the Trustee. Upon any exchange of any Global Security, whether pursuant to this Section or pursuant to Section 3.05 or Section 11.07 hereof, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities or a series shall be the same before and after such exchange, after giving effect to any retirement of Securities of such series.
SECTION 2.04. CUSIP Number.
The Company in issuing Securities of any series may use a CUSIP number, and, if so, the Trustee may use the CUSIP number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders of such series; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number printed on the notice or on the Securities of such series, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP number of any series of Securities.
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SECTION 2.05. Payment of Securities.
Payment of the principal, interest and premium on all Securities shall be payable as follows:
(a) On or before 9:30 a.m., New York City time, or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Company, of the day on which payment of principal, interest and premium is due on any Global Security pursuant to the terms thereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee funds available on such date sufficient to make such payment, by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by instructing the Trustee to withdraw sufficient funds from an account maintained by the Company with the Trustee or such other method as is acceptable to the Trustee. On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Depositary, of the day on which any payment of interest is due on any Global Security (other than at maturity), the Trustee shall pay to the Depositary such interest in same day funds. On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Depositary, of the day on which principal, interest payable at maturity and premium, if any, is due on any Global Security, the Trustee shall deposit with the Depositary the amount equal to the principal, interest payable at maturity and premium, if any, by wire transfer into the account specified by the Depositary. As a condition to the payment, at maturity or upon redemption, of any part of the principal or interest on and applicable premium of any Global Security, the Depositary shall surrender, or cause to be surrendered, such Global Security to the Trustee, whereupon a new Global Security shall be issued to the Depositary pursuant to Section 3.05 hereof.
(b) With respect to any Security that is not a Global Security, principal, applicable premium and interest due at the maturity of the Security shall be payable in immediately available funds when due upon presentation and surrender of such Security at the corporate trust office of the Trustee or at the authorized office of any paying agent. Interest on any Security that is not a Global Security (other than interest payable at maturity) shall be paid by check mailed to the Holder thereof at such Holders address as it appears on the register by check payable in clearinghouse funds; provided that if the Trustee receives a written request from any Holder of Securities, the aggregate principal amount of which having the same Interest Payment Date equals or exceeds $10,000,000, on or before the applicable Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, interest shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank within the continental United States designated by such Holder in its request or by direct deposit into the account of such Holder designated by such Holder in its request if such account is maintained with the Trustee or any paying agent.
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ARTICLE III
THE
SECURITIES
SECTION 3.01. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities); |
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07); |
(3) whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, (i) whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Sections 2.03 and 3.05, and (ii) the name of the Depositary with respect to any global Security; |
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable; |
(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date and, if applicable to such series of Securities, the basis points and United States Treasury rate(s) and any other rates to be used in calculating the reset rate; |
(6) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable; |
(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at 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; |
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(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and, where applicable, the obligation of the Company to select the Securities to be redeemed; |
(9) the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable; |
(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02; |
(11) additional Events of Default with respect to Securities of the series, if any, other than those set forth herein; |
(12) if either or both of Section 13.02 and Section 13.03 shall be inapplicable to the Securities of the series (provided that if no such inapplicability shall be specified, then both Section 13.02 and Section 13.03 shall be applicable to the Securities of the series); |
(13) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies in which the Securities of such series shall be denominated and in which payments or principal of, and any premium and interest on, such Securities shall or may by payable; |
(14) additional covenants with respect to Securities of the series, if any, other than those set forth herein; |
(15) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the Registrar and any Paying Agent; and |
(16) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture). |
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers Certificate setting forth, or providing the manner for determining, the terms of the Securities of such series.
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SECTION 3.02. Denominations.
The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
SECTION 3.03. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon 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. The seal of the Company may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of the seal or any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and make such Securities available for delivery. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through (d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,
(a) that the form of such Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.01, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
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(d) that no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or any governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company is required for the execution and delivery of such Securities by the Company, except such as have been obtained (except that no opinion need be expressed as to state securities or Blue Sky laws).
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, or in the written opinion of counsel to the Trustee (which counsel may be an employee of the Trustee) such authentication may not lawfully be made or would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the immediately preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.
If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this section and the Company Order with respect to the authentication and delivery of such series, authenticate and deliver one or more global Securities that (i) shall be in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount specified in such Company Order, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary therefor or its nominee, and (iii) shall be made available for delivery by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositarys instruction.
Each depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.
Unless otherwise provided for in the form of Security, each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
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SECTION 3.04. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, 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.
In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form, representing all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of such series.
Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.05), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued in global form, any such temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the office of the Depositary therefor for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of such Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).
SECTION 3.05. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the SECURITY REGISTER) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of registration of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed SECURITY REGISTRAR for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company in Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity.
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At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity, 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 make available for delivery, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
If the principal amount and applicable premium, of part but not all of a Global Security is paid, then upon surrender to the Trustee of such Global Security, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, deliver and register a Global Security in an authorized denomination in aggregate principal amount equal to, and having the same terms and of the same series as, the unpaid portion of such Global Security.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) 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 Securities to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 9.06 or 11.07 not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities 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 that series selected for redemption under Section 11.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
SECTION 3.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
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In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
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 3.07. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
Interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.
Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called DEFAULTED INTEREST) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit 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 Section 3.07 provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series 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 so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2). |
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(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Section 3.07, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee. |
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 3.08. Persons Deemed Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) 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.
None of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest of a Security in global form, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Security in global form, nothing herein shall prevent the Company or the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any Depositary (or its nominee), as a Holder, with respect to such Security in global form or impair, as between such Depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such Security in global form, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the right of such Depositary (or its nominee) as holder of such Security in global form.
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SECTION 3.09. Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities shall be held by the Trustee and may be destroyed (and, if so destroyed, certification of their destruction shall be delivered to the Company, unless, by a Company Order, the Company shall direct that cancelled Securities be returned to it).
SECTION 3.10. Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a year of twelve 30-day months.
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ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for or in the form of Security for such series), when the Trustee, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(a) either
(1) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (B) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.07) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(2) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(A) have become due and payable, or
(B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(C) 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 (A), (B) or (C) above, has 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 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 the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.07, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (2) of clause (a) of this Section 4.01, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.07 shall survive.
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If the Company shall have paid or caused to be paid in whole or in part the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on any Security, as and when the same shall become due and payable or the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation any outstanding Security, such Security shall cease to be entitled to the lien, benefit or security interest under this Indenture to the extent of such amounts paid.
SECTION 4.02. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.07, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee.
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ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default.
EVENT OF DEFAULT, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or to be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or |
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security when the same becomes due and payable at Maturity, upon redemption (including redemptions under Article XI), or otherwise; or |
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any of its other covenants, warranties or agreements in the Securities of that series or this Indenture (other than a covenant, agreement or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and the failure to observe or perform continues for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a Notice of Default hereunder shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; or |
(4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law with respect to itself, (B) consents to the entry of a judgment, decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law, (C) consents to or acquiesces in the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, (D) applies for, consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian of the Company or for any material part of its property, (E) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or (F) takes any corporate action in furtherance of or to facilitate, conditionally or otherwise, any of the foregoing; or |
(5) (i) a court of competent jurisdiction enters a judgment, decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law which shall (A) approve as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition in respect of the Company, (B) appoint a Custodian of the Company or for any material part of its property or (C) order the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and such judgment, decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (ii) any bankruptcy or insolvency petition or application is filed, or any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding is commenced against the Company and such petition, application or proceeding is not dismissed within 60 days; or (iii) a warrant of attachment is issued against any material portion of the property of the Company which is not released within 60 days of service, or |
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(6) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series. |
A Default under clause (3) above is not an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series notify the Company of the Default and the Company does not cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice.
SECTION 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity and Rescission.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or (5) of Section 5.01) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice in writing to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the unpaid principal of and accrued interest to the date of acceleration (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) on all the Outstanding Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately and, upon any such declaration, the Outstanding Securities of that series (or specified principal amount) shall become and be immediately due and payable.
If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or (5) of Section 5.01 occurs, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest on the Outstanding Securities of that series (or specified principal amount) shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of any Security of that series.
Upon payment of all such principal and interest, all of the Company obligations under the Securities of that series and (upon payment of the Securities of all series) this Indenture shall terminate, except obligations under Section 6.07.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if (i) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of and interest on the Securities of that series that has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived, (ii) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal that has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration have been paid, (iii) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (iv) all payments due to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.07 have been made.
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SECTION 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if:
(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable, (A) if such default occurs prior to the Release Date, and such default continues for a period of 90 days, or (B) if such default occurs on or after the Release Date, such default continues for a period of 30 days, or |
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at Maturity, upon redemption (including redemption under Article XII) or otherwise, |
the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the reasonable costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default hereunder 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 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 secure any other proper remedy.
SECTION 5.04. 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 proceeding or otherwise,
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(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 or 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 agent and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceedings, and |
(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07. |
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 5.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 5.06. Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article in respect of the Securities of any series 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 in respect of which moneys have been collected 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 6.07 applicable to such series;
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Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of such series 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 of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 5.06. At least fifteen (15) days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder and the Company a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount to be paid.
SECTION 5.07. Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series; |
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder; |
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; |
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and |
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; |
it being understood and intended that no one or more of Holders of Securities of any 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 of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders of Securities of the affected series.
SECTION 5.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
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SECTION 5.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.
SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that:
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture; |
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction; and |
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(3) subject to Section 6.01, the Trustee need not take any action which might involve the Trustee in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the Holders not joining therein. |
SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may by written notice to the Trustee on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any Default or Event of Default with respect to such series and its consequences, except a Default or Event of Default
(1) in respect of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, or |
(2) in respect of a covenant or other provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected. |
Upon any such waiver, such Default or Event of Default shall cease to exist and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture and the Securities of such series; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 5.14. 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, suffered 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 Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).
SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Stay or Extension.
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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, and will actively resist any and all efforts to be compelled to 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 (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) the Company hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
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ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee.
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustees duties and responsibilities under this Indenture shall be governed by Section 315 (a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and shall 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) None of the provisions of Section 315 (d) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be excluded from this Indenture.
SECTION 6.02. Notice of Defaults.
Within 30 days after the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such Default or Event of Default known to the Trustee, unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default or Event of 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 fund installment 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 interest of the Holders of Securities of such series.
SECTION 6.03. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:
(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, note, other evidence of indebtedness 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;
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(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 Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity to its reasonable satisfaction against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default which may have occurred, 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, approval or other paper or document, or the books and records of the Company, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any series; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding; the reasonable expense of every such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;
(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; and
SECTION 6.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals herein and in the Securities, except the Trustees certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 6.05. May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.08 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.
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SECTION 6.06. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder (including amounts held by the Trustee as Paying Agent) need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee may allow and credit the Company interest on any money received by it hereunder at such rate, if any, as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Trustee from time to time as may be permitted by law.
SECTION 6.07. 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, damage, claim or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon or determined or measured by the income of the Trustee), incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. |
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(4) or Section 5.01(5), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
The provisions of this Section 6.07 shall survive this Indenture.
SECTION 6.08. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
The Trustee shall be disqualified only where such disqualification is required by Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Nothing 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.
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SECTION 6.09. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under Section 310(a) (1) of the Trust Indenture Act having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 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 said 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. Neither the Company nor any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company may serve as Trustee. If at any time the Trustee 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 6.10. 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 in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months; or |
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months; or |
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation; |
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then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company with respect to such Securities. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
SECTION 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
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(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
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SECTION 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated therein.
SECTION 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of, and subject to the direction of, the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.06, 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 Trustees certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall 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 to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall 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.
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The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
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 Trustees certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:
Form of Authenticating
Agents
Certificate of Authentication
Dated: ______________________
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
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ARTICLE VII
HOLDERS LISTS
AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
SECTION 7.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually, not later than January 1 and July 1 in each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of the preceding December 15 or June 15, as the case may be; and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;
provided, however, that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, no such list shall be required to be furnished.
SECTION 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.02 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as applicants) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either
(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02(a); or |
(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02 (a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application. |
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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 whose name and address appears in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02 (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 five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interest of the Holders 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 objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders 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 nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 7.02(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 7.02(b).
SECTION 7.03. Reports by Trustee.
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities as provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of May 15, if required by and in compliance with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall from time to time transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities as provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act brief reports that comply, both as to content and date of delivery, with Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act (to the extent required by such Section).
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION 7.04. Reports by Company.
The Company shall:
(1) file with the Trustee, within 30 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 shall 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 Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations; |
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(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; |
(3) transmit by mail to all Holders, 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; and |
(4) furnish to the Trustee, on or before May 1 of each year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of the Companys compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this paragraph, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture. Such certificate need not comply with Section 1.02. |
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ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, LEASE, SALE OR TRANSFER
SECTION 8.01. Then Company May Merge, Etc.
The Company shall not consolidate with, or merge with or into any other corporation (whether or not the Company shall be the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person or group of affiliated Persons, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, unless:
(1) either the Company shall be the continuing Person or the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or with which or into which the Company is merged or the Person (or group of affiliated Persons) to which all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety are sold, assigned, transferred or leased shall be a corporation (or constitute corporations) and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture; and |
(2) immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no Event of Default, and no Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. |
SECTION 8.02. Opinion of Counsel.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the proposed transaction(s) covered by Section 8.01 an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the transaction(s) and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent to the consummation of the transaction(s) under this Indenture have been met.
SECTION 8.03. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other corporation or any lease, sale, assignment, or transfer of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the successor corporation or affiliated group of corporations to which such lease, sale, assignment, 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 or corporations had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor corporation or corporations shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and in the event of such conveyance or transfer, except in the case of a lease, any such predecessor corporation may be dissolved and liquidated.
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ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without notice to or the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or |
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or |
(3) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities; or |
(4) to add or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; or |
(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or |
(6) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01; or |
(7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11(b); or |
(8) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein; or |
(9) to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series. |
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Upon request of the Company, accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in (and subject to the last sentence of) Section 9.03, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee shall, subject to Section 10.03, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or extend the time for payment thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date); or |
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or Defaults or Events of Default hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or |
(3) change the redemption provisions (including Article XI) hereof in a manner adverse to such Holder; or |
(4) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 5.13, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to the Trustee and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11(b) and 9.01(7). |
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A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provisions of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders 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 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
The Trustee shall sign any supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article, subject to the last sentence of this Section 9.03. 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 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
SECTION 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
SECTION 9.06. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
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ARTICLE X
COVENANTS
SECTION 10.01. Payments of Principal 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 10.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company will maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment, 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 any change in location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee as set forth in Section 1.05.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
Unless otherwise set forth in, or pursuant to, a Board Resolution or Indenture supplemental hereto with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of U.S. Bank National Association, at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005, as such office of the Company.
SECTION 10.03. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.
SECTION 10.04. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.
The Company will pay or discharge, or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (l) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or upon the income, profits or property of the Company, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a material lien upon the property of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate provision has been made.
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SECTION 10.05. Maintenance of Properties.
The Company will cause all material properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order (normal wear and tear excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties, or disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.
SECTION 10.06. Certificates Respecting Defaults.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee forthwith upon becoming aware of a Default or Event of Default (but in no event later than 10 days after the occurrence of each Default or Event of Default that is continuing), an Officers Certificate setting forth the details of such Default or Event of Default and the action that the Company proposes to take with respect thereto and the specific section or sections of this Indenture in connection with which such Default or Event of Default has occurred.
SECTION 10.07. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and 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 so to act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with 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, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure to so act.
The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities (other than the Trustee) to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:
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(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that 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 that series) in the making of any payment of principal And premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that 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 or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (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; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in New York, New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance or such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
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ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION
OF SECURITIES
SECTION 11.01. Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 11.02. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 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 prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
SECTION 11.03. Election by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 90 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, substantially pro rata, by lot or by any other method as the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and that complies with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which such Securities are listed, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series; provided that in case the Securities of such series have different terms and maturities, the Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company and the Company shall give notice thereof to the Trustee.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities 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 the Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
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SECTION 11.04. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless otherwise provided in an indenture supplemental hereto, 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 the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed; |
(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date; |
(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; |
(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; |
(7) the CUSIP number, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed; and |
(8) unless otherwise provided as to a particular series of Securities, if at the time of publication or mailing of any notice of redemption the Company shall not have deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent and/or irrevocably directed the Trustee or Paying Agent to apply, from money held by it available to be used for the redemption of Securities, an amount in cash sufficient to redeem all of the Securities called for redemption, including accrued interest to the Redemption Date, such notice shall state that it is subject to the receipt of the redemption moneys by the Trustee or Paying Agent before the Redemption Date (unless such redemption is mandatory) and such notice shall be of no effect unless such moneys are so received before such date. |
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Companys request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 11.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.
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 10.07) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.
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SECTION 11.06. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular or Special Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.
SECTION 11.07. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at an office or agency of the Company at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and Stated Maturity, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.
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ARTICLE XII
SINKING
FUNDS
SECTION 12.01. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a MANDATORY SINKING FUND PAYMENT, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an OPTIONAL SINKING FUND PAYMENT. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
SECTION 12.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (1) may deliver Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 12.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.02 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.03 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.06 and 11.07.
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ARTICLE XIII
DEFEASANCE
AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 13.01. Applicability of Article; Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Unless pursuant to Section 3.01 provision is made for the inapplicability of either or both of (a) Defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 13.02 or (b) Covenant Defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 13.03, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article, shall be applicable to the Securities of such series, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities of such series, elect to have either Section 13.02 (unless inapplicable) or Section 13.03 (unless inapplicable) be applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series upon compliance with the applicable conditions set forth below in this Article.
SECTION 13.02. Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Companys exercise of the option provided in Section 13.01 to defease the Outstanding Securities of a particular series, the Company shall be discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the date the applicable conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, DEFEASANCE). Defeasance shall mean that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same); provided, however, that the following rights, obligations, powers, trusts, duties and immunities shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund provided for in Section 13.04, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Companys obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.07, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option with respect to Defeasance under this Section 13.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option with respect to Covenant Defeasance under Section 14.03 in regard to the Securities of such series.
SECTION 13.03. Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Companys exercise of the option provided in Section 13.01 to obtain a Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under this Indenture (except its obligations under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 5.06, 5.09, 6.10, 10.01, 10.02, and 10.07) with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the applicable conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, COVENANT DEFEASANCE). Covenant Defeasance shall mean that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in this Indenture (except its obligations under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 5.06, 5.09, 6.10, 10.01, 10.02, and 10.07), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein or by reason of any reference to any other provision herein or in any other document, and such omission to comply shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 5.01(3) with respect to Outstanding Securities of such series, and the remainder of this Indenture and of the Securities of such series shall be unaffected thereby.
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SECTION 13.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to Defeasance under Section 13.02 and Covenant Defeasance under Section 13.03 with respect to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series:
(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.09 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it), under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Trustee, as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) Dollars in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, after payment of all federal, state and local taxes or other charges or assessments in respect thereof payable by the Trustee, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and each installment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities. |
(2) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit, and no Default or Event of Default under clause (4) or (5) of Section 5.01 shall occur and be continuing, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period). |
(3) Such deposit, Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound. |
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(4) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause any Securities of such series then listed on any national securities exchange registered under the Exchange Act to be delisted. |
(5) In the case of an election with respect to Section 13.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee either (A) a ruling directed to the Trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding 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 or (B) an Opinion of Counsel, based on such ruling or on a change in the applicable federal income tax law since the date of this Indenture, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize 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. |
(6) In the case of an election with respect to Section 13.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel or a ruling directed to the Trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding 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. |
(7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.01. |
(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the Defeasance under Section 13.02 or the Covenant Defeasance under Section 13.03 (as the case may be) have been complied with. |
SECTION 13.05. Deposited Money and Government Obligations To Be Held In Trust.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.07, all money and Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee collectively for purposes of this Section 13.05, the Trustee) pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of a particular series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
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The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof, other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series.
Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver to pay to the Company from time to time upon company Request any money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited for the purpose for which such money or Government Obligations were deposited.
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ARTICLE XIV
SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES
SECTION 14.01. Agreement to Subordinate.
The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities issued hereunder, by such Holders acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XIV, and each Holder of a Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.
The payment by the Company of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Securities issued hereunder shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and entitled to the benefits of this Article XIV irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
No provision of this Article XIV shall prevent the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder.
SECTION 14.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness.
In the event that any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has occurred and is continuing and any applicable grace period with respect to such default has expired and such default has not been cured or waived or ceased to exist, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption and sinking fund payments) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 14.02, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.
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SECTION 14.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities; and upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, which the Holders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XIV, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or by the Trustee under the Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such senior indebtedness in full, in money or moneys worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Holders or to the Trustee.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
For purposes of this Article XIV, the words cash, property or securities shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XIV with respect to the Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article VIII of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 14.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article VIII of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 14.02 or in this Section 14.03 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.07 of this Indenture.
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SECTION 14.04. Subrogation.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the rights of the Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XIV, and no payment pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Holders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XIV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness on the other hand.
Nothing contained in this Article XIV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and 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 Senior Indebtedness of the Company, 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 XIV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XIV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.01 of this Indenture, and the Holders shall be entitled to conclusively 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 receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of 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 XIV.
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SECTION 14.05. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Each Holder by such Holders acceptance of a Security authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holders behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XIV and appoints the Trustee such Holders attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
SECTION 14.06. Notice by the Company.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XIV or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.01 of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 14.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security), 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 purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.01 of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (or a trustee on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XIV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XIV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
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SECTION 14.07. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XIV 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 this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XIV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture or against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.01 of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Holders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XIV or otherwise.
SECTION 14.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired.
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company to enforce subordination as herein provided shall be at any time in any way 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 that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without incurring responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XIV or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.
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MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 14.09. Miscellaneous.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
WPS RESOURCES CORPORATION | |
By: /s/ Bradley A. Johnson | |
Name: Bradley A. Johnson | |
Title: Vice President and Treasurer | |
Attest: | |
/s/ Barth J. Wolf | |
Name: Barth J. Wolf | |
Title: Secretary and Manager - Legal Services | |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | |
as Trustee | |
By: /s/ Peter M. Brennan | |
Name: Peter M. Brennan | |
Title: Vice President | |
Attest: | |
/s/ Steven F. Posto | |
Name: Steven F. Posto | |
Title: Assistant Vice President |
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We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-133194 on Form S-3 of our report dated February 28, 2006 (August 9, 2006 as to the effects of the reclassifications described in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements) (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of new accounting principles) relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of WPS Resources Corporation and subsidiaries, and our report dated February 28, 2006 relating to managements report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K of WPS Resources Corporation dated August 9, 2006, and to the reference to us under the heading Experts in the Prospectus, which is part of such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
November 27, 2006
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-133194 on Form S-3 of our report dated December 9, 2005 (June 30, 2006 as to the effects of the reclassifications for discontinued operations and reportable segments, as described in Notes 1 and 2 to the consolidated financial statements) relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of Peoples Energy Corporation, appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 2006, and our report dated December 9, 2005 relating to managements report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of Peoples Energy Corporation for the year ended September 30, 2005, and to the reference to us under the heading Experts in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chicago, Illinois
November
27, 2006
Exhibit 25(b)
Securities Act of 1933 Registration No. 333-133194
STATEMENT OF
ELIGIBILITY UNDER
THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS
TRUSTEE
Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of
a Trustee Pursuant to
Section 305(b)(2)
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter) |
31-0841368 |
I.R.S. Employer Identification No. |
800 Nicollet Mall | |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | 55402 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Peter M. Brennan |
U.S. Bank National Association |
1555 N. River Center Drive Suite 301 |
Milwaukee, WI 53212 |
(414) 905-5003 |
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) |
WPS Resources Corporation |
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) |
Wisconsin | 39-1775292 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
700 North Adams Street, Green Bay WI | 54307 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller
of the Currency Washington, D.C. |
b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes |
Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS
WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such
affiliation. None |
Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustees knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and >qualification. |
1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, as now in effect.* |
2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business.* |
3. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers.* |
4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.* |
5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6. |
7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2006, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7. |
* A copy of each of these documents is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit with corresponding exhibit numbers to the Form T-1 of Structured Obligations Corporation, filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, on November 16, 2001 Registration No. 333-67188), and is incorporated herein by Registration Number 333-67188. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Milwaukee, State of Wisconsin, on the 27th day of November, 2006.
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | |
By: /s/ Peter M. Brennan | |
Peter M. Brennan | |
Vice President |
By: | /s/
Gene F. Ploeger Gene F. Ploeger Vice President |
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In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: November 27, 2006
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | |
By: /s/ Peter M. Brennan | |
Peter M. Brennan | |
Vice President |
By: | /s/
Gene F. Ploeger Gene F. Ploeger Vice President |
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6/30/2006 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assets | |||||
Cash and Due From Depository Institutions | $7,250,783 | ||||
Securities | 38,280,379 | ||||
Federal Funds | 3,206,234 | ||||
Loans & Lease Financing Receivables | 138,643,464 | ||||
Fixed Assets | 1,738,725 | ||||
Intangible Assets | 11,772,884 | ||||
Other Assets | 11,661,480 | ||||
Total Assets | $212,553,949 | ||||
Liabilities | |||||
Deposits | $135,429,440 | ||||
Fed Funds | 9,690,491 | ||||
Treasury Demand Notes | 0 | ||||
Trading Liabilities | 370,355 | ||||
Other Borrowed Money | 32,369,084 | ||||
Acceptances | 0 | ||||
Subordinated Notes and Debentures | 6,909,696 | ||||
Other Liabilities | 6,518,843 | ||||
Total Liabilities | $191,287,909 | ||||
Equity | |||||
Minority Interest in Subsidiaries | $1,033,230 | ||||
Common and Preferred Stock | 18,200 | ||||
Surplus | 11,804,040 | ||||
Undivided Profits | 8,410,170 | ||||
Total Equity Capital | $21,265,640 | ||||
Total Liabilities and Equity Capital | $212,553,549 |
To the best of the undersigneds determination, as of the date hereof, the above financial information is true and correct.
By: | /s/
Peter M. Brennan Vice President |
Date: November 27, 2006
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