Series B Preferred Stock Section 1.2(d)......................... 5 Shares............................ Section 3.2(a).........................
Preferred Shares The Preferred Shares have been duly and validly authorized, and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, such Preferred Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, will not be issued in violation of any preemptive rights, and will rank pari passu with or senior to all other series or classes of Preferred Stock, whether or not issued or outstanding, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company.
Series A Preferred Stock On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, as soon as practicable after the receipt of the approvals of the Board of Directors of the Company and the stockholders of the Company, including the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, referred to in Paragraph 5, the Company will amend the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock so that, as amended, the Series A Preferred Stock will have only such rights, preferences and privileges set forth on Exhibit A hereto (as so amended, the "New Preferred Stock"). As set forth in Exhibit A hereto, the New Preferred Stock will offer the holders thereof the options set forth in subparagraphs (a)-(c) below, as such holder may elect. All references herein to the Series A Preferred Stock or the New Preferred Stock shall be deemed to include all rights to dividends or other distributions in respect of such Series A Preferred Stock or the New Preferred Stock.
(a) OPTION 1 - CASH. The New Preferred Stock shall be exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to the date which is ten days after the Closing Date (as defined in Paragraph 5 below) for cash in amount equal to 50% of the face value of the New Preferred Stock plus all accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock, up to an aggregate amount of $6.4 million face value and accrued and unpaid dividends. If, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company's financial condition and results of operations permit the Company to permit the exchange for cash of more than $6.4 million face value (plus accrued dividends) of the New Preferred Stock, the terms of the New Preferred Stock will permit the exchange for cash of up to $8.0 million face value (plus accrued and unpaid dividends) of the New Preferred Stock. To the extent that holders of Series A Preferred Stock desire to exchange in the aggregate a greater face value (plus accrued and unpaid dividends) of the New Preferred Stock than is permitted under the terms of the New Preferred Stock, New Preferred Stock will be accepted for exchange by the Company for cash on a pro rata basis based upon the aggregate face value (plus accrued and unpaid dividends) of the New Preferred Stock tendered for exchange.
Class B Shares (i) In consideration of the Underwriter's services as principal underwriter of each Fund's Class B shares pursuant to this Agreement and in accordance with the provisions of the Trust's Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan (the "Class B Plan") in respect of such shares each Fund agrees:
(I) to pay to the Underwriter or, at the Underwriter's direction, to a third party, monthly in arrears on or prior to the 5th business day of the following calendar month (A) a service fee (the "Service Fee") equal to 0.25 of 1% per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Class B shares of the Fund outstanding from time to time, and (B) the Underwriter's "Allocable Portion" (as hereinafter defined) of a fee (the "Distribution Fee") equal to 0.75% of 1% per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Class B shares of the Fund outstanding from time to time, and (II) to withhold from redemption proceeds in respect of Class B shares of the Fund the Underwriter's Allocable Portion of the Contingent Deferred Sales Charges ("CDSCs") payable in respect of such redemption as provided in the Prospectus of the Fund and to pay the same over to the Underwriter or, at the Underwriter's direction, to a third party, at the time the redemption proceeds in respect of such redemption are payable to the holder of the Class B shares redeemed.
(ii) The Underwriter will be deemed to have performed all services required to be performed in order to be entitled to receive its Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fee payable in respect of the Class B shares of the Fund upon the settlement date of each sale of a "Commission Share" (as defined in the Allocation Schedule attached hereto as Schedule A) of the Fund taken into account in determining the Underwriter's Allocable Portion of such Distribution Fees.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement of (to the extent waiver thereof is permitted thereby) applicable law, the Fund's obligation to pay the Underwriter's Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees payable in respect to the Class B shares of the Fund shall not be terminated or modified for any reason (including a termination of this Agreement) except to the extent required by a change in the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder or the Conduct Rules of the NASD, in each case enacted or promulgated after December 29, 1997, or in connection with a "Complete Termination" (as hereinafter defined) of the Class B Plan.
(iv) The Fund will not take any action to waive or change any CDSC in respect of the Class B shares of the Fund, except as provided in the Fund's Prospectus or statement of additional information as in effect as of the date hereof, without the consent of the Underwriter and the permitted assigns of all or any portion of its rights to its Allocable Portion of the CDSCs.
(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither the termination of the Underwriter's role as principal distributor of the Class B shares of any fund, nor the termination of this Agreement nor the termination of the Class B Plan will terminate the Underwriter's right to its Allocable Portion of the CDSCs in respect of the Class B shares of the Fund.
(vi) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Underwriter may assign, sell or pledge (collectively, "Transfer") its rights to the Service Fees and its Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs (but not its obligations to the Fund under this Agreement) to raise funds to make the expenditures related to the distribution of Class B shares of the Fund and in connection therewith, upon receipt of notice of such Transfer, the Fund shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the assignee, purchaser or pledgee (collectively with their subsequent transferees, "Transferees") such portion of the Underwriter's Service Fees, Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs in respect of the Class B shares of the Fund so Transferred. Except as provided in (iii) above and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, to the extent the Underwriter has Transferred its rights thereto to raise funds as aforesaid, the Fund's obligation to pay the Underwriter's Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs payable in respect of the Class B shares of the Fund shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be subject to dispute, offset, counterclaim or any defense whatsoever, at law or equity, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing based on the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Underwriter's right to the Distribution Fees and CDSCs in respect of the Class B shares of the Fund, which have been so transferred in connection with such Transfer). The Fund agrees that each such Transferee is a third party beneficiary of the provisions of this clause (vi) but only insofar as those provisions relate to Distribution Fees and CDSCs transferred to such Transferee.
(vii) For purposes of the Agreement, the term "Allocable Portion" of Distribution Fees and CDSCs payable in respect of the Class B shares of the Fund shall mean the portion of such Distribution Fees and CDSCs allocated to the Underwriter in accordance with the Allocation Schedule attached hereto as Schedule A.
(viii) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Complete Termination" of the Plan in respect of the Fund means a termination of the Class B Plan involving the complete cessation of the payment of Distribution Fees in respect of all Class B shares of the Fund, and the termination of the Class B Plan and the complete cessation of the payment of distribution fees pursuant to any other distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act in respect of the Class B shares of the Fund and any successor fund or the Fund acquiring a substantial portion of the assets of the Fund and for every future class of shares which has substantially similar characteristics to the Class B shares of the Fund taking into account the manner of payment and amount of sales charge, CDSC or other similar charges borne directly or indirectly by the holders of such shares.
Preferred Units Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the provisions of Section 14.3 are not applicable to Preferred Units or the holders of Preferred Units. Holders of Preferred Units shall have no voting, approval or consent rights under this Article XIV. Voting, approval and consent rights of holders of Preferred Units shall be solely as provided for and set forth in Article XVI.
Preferred Stock The Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by law and the provisions of this Paragraph FOURTH, to provide for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in series, and to establish from time to time the number of shares included in each such series, but not below the number of shares then issued, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and relative rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, or restrictions thereof. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:
(a) The number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series;
(b) The dividend rate on the shares of that series, whether dividends shall be cumulative, and, if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payments of dividends on shares of that series;
(c) Whether that series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;
(d) Whether that series shall have conversion privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion, including provisions for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;
(e) Whether or not the shares of that series shall be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different rates;
(f) Whether that series shall have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund;
(g) The rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; and
(h) Any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of that series. FIFTH: The name and mailing address of the incorporator is as follows: Pxxxx Xxxx Dxxxxxxxx & Pxxxxxxx 900 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 SIXTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation and for the purpose of creating, defining, limiting and regulating the powers of the Corporation and its directors and stockholders:
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed and may be altered from time to time in the manner provided in the By-Laws, and vacancies in the Board of Directors and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled, and directors maybe removed, as provided in the By-Laws.
(b) The election of directors may be conducted in any manner approved by the stockholders at the time when the election is held and need not be by written ballot.
(c) All corporate powers and authority of the Corporation (except as at the time otherwise provided by law, by this Certificate of Incorporation or by the By-Laws) shall be vested in and exercised by the Board of Directors.
(d) The Board of Directors shall have the power without the assent or vote of the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation, except to the extent that the By-Laws or this Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provide.
(e) The personal liability of the directors of the corporation is hereby eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of paragraph (7) of subsection (b) of Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be amended and supplemented. Neither the amendment or repeal of this section nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this section shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption.
(f) The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be amended and supplemented, or by any successor thereto, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under said section from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said section. The Corporation shall advance expenses to the fullest extent permitted by said Section. Such right to indemnification and advancement of expenses shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any By-Law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Class B Units Class B Unitholders shall not be entitled to vote in any matters relating to the Company, unless otherwise reserved to the Members by the Act. In addition to the other rights and obligations of Class B Unitholders hereunder, Class B Units shall entitle the holder of such Class B Units to (i) Tax Distributions pursuant to Section 4.01(b), and (ii) a preferred return equal to the Class B Preferred Return Amount. The Class B Preferred Return Amount shall not be required to be paid annually but shall accrue and become payable at the earlier of (x) the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Effective Time, or (y) a liquidation of, or a taxable sale of substantially all of the assets of, the Company. Upon the occurrence of an event referenced in clause (y) above, each Class B Unitholder shall also be paid such Class B Unitholder’s Class B Preferred Return Base Amount, in addition to all of the outstanding, accrued and unpaid Class B Preferred Return Amount. On the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Effective Time, each Class B Unitholder may, at its option and in accordance with the notice and other procedural provisions set forth in Section 11.01(a) (the “7 Year Put Option”), sell all (but not less than all) of its Class B Units to the Company for an amount equal to such Class B Unitholder’s Class B Preferred Return Base Amount plus any outstanding and accrued Class B Preferred Return Amount of such Class B Unitholder (the “Class B Option Consideration”) and, upon the exercise of the 7 Year Put Option by any Class B Unitholder, the Company shall purchase all of such holder’s Class B Units for the Class B Option Consideration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Class B Preferred Return Amount shall be due and payable with respect to such Class B Units pursuant this Section 3.02(b) at such time or times specified in this Section 3.02(b) unless such Class B Units remain issued and outstanding at such time or times and no Redemption or Direct Exchange of such Class B Units described in Article XI hereof has occurred.
Common Shares 4 Company...................................................................................... 4
Trust Preferred Securities The Company has performed, or has caused each Company Trust to perform, all of the obligations required to be performed by it and is not in default under the terms of the Company Trust Debentures or the Company Trust Preferred Securities or any agreements related thereto.
Book-Entry Preferred Securities (a) A Global Preferred Security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates registered in the names of the Owners only if such exchange complies with Section 5.7 and (i) the Depositary advises the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee in writing that the Depositary is no longer willing or able properly to discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Global Preferred Security, and no qualified successor is appointed by the Administrative Trustees within ninety (90) days of receipt of such notice, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and the Administrative Trustees fail to appoint a qualified successor within ninety (90) days of obtaining knowledge of such event, (iii) the Administrative Trustees at their option advise the Property Trustee in writing that the Trust elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or (iv) a Note Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the Administrative Trustees shall notify the Depositary and instruct the Depositary to notify all Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee of the occurrence of such event and of the availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates to Owners of the Preferred Securities requesting the same. Upon the issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred Security wishes at any time to transfer an interest in such Global Preferred Security to a Person other than a QIB/QP, such transfer shall be effected, subject to the Applicable Depositary Procedures, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.6 and Section 5.7, and the transferee shall receive a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate in connection with such transfer. A holder of a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate that is a QIB/QP may, upon request and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.6 and Section 5.7, exchange such Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate for a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred Security.
(b) If any Global Preferred Security is to be exchanged for Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates or canceled in part, or if any Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate is to be exchanged in whole or in part for any Global Preferred Security, then either (i) such Global Preferred Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article V or (ii) the aggregate Liquidation Amount represented by such Global Preferred Security shall be reduced, subject to Section 5.4, or increased by an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by that portion of the Global Preferred Security to be so exchanged or canceled, or equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by such Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates to be so exchanged for any Global Preferred Security, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Property Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Depositary Procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender to the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar of any Global Preferred Security or Securities by the Depositary, accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the Depositary. None of the Securities Registrar or the Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions.
(c) Every Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate executed and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Preferred Security or any portion thereof shall be executed and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Preferred Security, unless such Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Preferred Security or a nominee thereof.
(d) The Depositary or its nominee, as registered owner of a Global Preferred Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Preferred Security for all purposes under this Trust Agreement and the Global Preferred Security, and Owners with respect to a Global Preferred Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Depositary Procedures. The Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Trust Agreement relating to the Global Preferred Securities (including the payment of the Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on the Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and the giving of instructions or directions by Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and the giving of notices) as the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof. None of the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any transfers effected by the Depositary.
(e) The rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law, the Applicable Depositary Procedures and agreements between such Owners and the Depositary and/or the Depositary Participants; provided, that solely for the purpose of determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of Preferred Securities have voted on any matter provided for in this Trust Agreement, to the extent that Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security, the Trustees may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, any written instrument (including a proxy) delivered to the Property Trustee by the Depositary setting forth the Owners’ votes or assigning the right to vote on any matter to any other Persons either in whole or in part. To the extent that Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security, the initial Depositary will make book-entry transfers among the Depositary Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities that are represented by a Global Preferred Security to such Depositary Participants, and none of the Depositor or the Trustees shall have any responsibility or obligation with respect thereto.
(f) To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is required under this Trust Agreement, for so long as Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications to the Depositary, and shall have no obligations to the Owners.
