INDENTURE Dated as of ____________, 20__ Between ZHONGPIN INC., as Issuer And as Trustee
EXHIBIT
4.3
Dated as
of ____________, 20__
Between
as
Issuer
And
[__________________________],
as
Trustee
Debt
Securities
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE
I
|
DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
|
1
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SECTION
1.01.
|
Definitions
|
1
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SECTION
1.02.
|
Other
Definitions
|
3
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SECTION
1.03
|
Incorporation
by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
|
3
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SECTION
1.04
|
Rules
of Construction
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3
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ARTICLE
II
|
THE
SECURITIES
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4
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SECTION
2.01
|
Unlimited
in Amount, Issuable in Series, Form and Dating
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4
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SECTION
2.02
|
Execution
and Authentication
|
6
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SECTION
2.03
|
Registrar
and Paying Agent
|
6
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SECTION
2.04
|
Paying
Agent to Hold Assets in Trust
|
7
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SECTION
2.05
|
Holder
Lists
|
7
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SECTION
2.06
|
Registration
of Transfer and Exchange
|
7
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SECTION
2.07
|
Replacement
Securities
|
7
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SECTION
2.08
|
Outstanding
Securities
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8
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SECTION
2.09
|
Treasury
Securities
|
8
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||
SECTION
2.10
|
Temporary
Securities
|
8
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||
SECTION
2.11
|
Cancellation
|
8
|
||
SECTION
2.12
|
CUSIP
Numbers
|
8
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||
SECTION
2.13
|
Defaulted
Interest
|
8
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||
SECTION
2.14
|
Special
Record Dates
|
9
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ARTICLE
III
|
REDEMPTION
|
9
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SECTION
3.01
|
Notices
to Trustee
|
9
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SECTION
3.02
|
Selection
of Securities to Be Redeemed
|
9
|
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SECTION
3.03
|
Notice
of Redemption
|
9
|
||
SECTION
3.04
|
Effect
of Notice of Redemption
|
10
|
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SECTION
3.05
|
Deposit
of Redemption Price
|
10
|
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SECTION
3.06
|
Securities
Redeemed in Part
|
10
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ARTICLE
IV
|
COVENANTS
|
10
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SECTION
4.01
|
Payment
of Securities
|
10
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SECTION
4.02
|
Maintenance
of Office or Agency
|
10
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SECTION
4.03
|
SEC
Reports
|
11
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SECTION
4.04
|
Compliance
Certificate
|
11
|
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SECTION
4.05
|
Taxes
|
11
|
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SECTION
4.06
|
Corporate
Existence
|
11
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ARTICLE
V
|
MERGER,
ETC.
|
11
|
||
SECTION
5.01
|
When
Company May Merge, etc.
|
11
|
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SECTION
5.02
|
Successor
Corporation Substituted
|
11
|
i
ARTICLE
VI
|
DEFAULTS
AND REMEDIES
|
12
|
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SECTION
6.01
|
Events
of Default
|
12
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SECTION
6.02
|
Acceleration
|
12
|
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SECTION
6.03
|
Other
Remedies
|
13
|
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SECTION
6.04
|
Wavier
of Past Defaults
|
13
|
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SECTION
6.05
|
Control
by Majority
|
13
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SECTION
6.06
|
Limitation
on Suits
|
13
|
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SECTION
6.07
|
Rights
of Holders to Receive Payment
|
13
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SECTION
6.08
|
Collection
Suit by Trustee
|
13
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SECTION
6.09
|
Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim
|
13
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SECTION
6.10
|
Priorities
|
14
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SECTION
6.11.
|
Undertaking
for Costs
|
14
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||
ARTICLE
VII
|
TRUSTEE
|
14
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SECTION
7.01.
|
Duties
of Trustee
|
14
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SECTION
7.02.
|
Rights
of Trustee
|
15
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SECTION
7.03.
|
Individual
Rights of Trustee
|
16
|
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SECTION
7.04.
|
Trustee’s
Disclaimer
|
16
|
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SECTION
7.05.
|
Notice
of Defaults
|
16
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SECTION
7.06.
|
Reports
by Trustee to Holders
|
16
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SECTION
7.07.
|
Compensation
and Indemnity
|
16
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SECTION
7.08.
|
Replacement
of Trustee
|
17
|
||
SECTION
7.09.
|
Successor
Trustee by Merger, Etc.
|
17
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SECTION
7.10.
|
Eligibility;
Disqualification
|
17
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SECTION
7.11.
|
Preferential
Collection of Claims Against the Company
|
17
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ARTICLE
VIII
|
DISCHARGE
OF INDENTURE
|
18
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SECTION
8.01.
|
Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture
|
18
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SECTION
8.02.
|
Application
of Trust Funds; Indemnification
|
18
|
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SECTION
8.03.
|
Legal
Defeasance of Securities of any Series
|
19
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SECTION
8.04.
|
Covenant
Defeasance
|
20
|
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SECTION
8.05.
|
Repayment
to Company
|
20
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ARTICLE
IX
|
AMENDMENTS,
SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
|
21
|
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SECTION
9.01.
|
Without
Consent of Holders
|
21
|
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SECTION
9.02.
|
With
Consent of Holders
|
21
|
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SECTION
9.03.
|
Compliance
with Trust Indenture Act
|
21
|
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SECTION
9.04.
|
Revocation
and Effect of Consents
|
21
|
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SECTION
9.05.
|
Notation
on or Exchange of Securities
|
21
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SECTION
9.06.
|
Trustee
to Sign Amendment, etc.
|
22
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ARTICLE
X
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
22
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SECTION
10.01.
|
Trust
Indenture Act Controls
|
22
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SECTION
10.02.
|
Notices
|
22
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SECTION
10.03.
|
Communication
by Holders with Other Holders
|
23
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SECTION
10.04.
|
Certificate
and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
|
23
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SECTION
10.05.
|
Statements
Required in Certificate or Opinion
|
23
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SECTION
10.06.
|
Rules
by Trustee and Agents
|
23
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SECTION
10.07.
|
Legal
Holidays
|
23
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SECTION
10.08.
|
Duplicate
Originals
|
23
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SECTION
10.09.
|
Governing
Law
|
23
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SECTION
10.10.
|
No
Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
|
23
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SECTION
10.11.
|
Successors
|
23
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SECTION
10.12.
|
Severability
|
23
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SECTION
10.13.
|
Counterpart
Originals
|
24
|
ii
CROSS-REFERENCE
TABLE
TIA
Section
|
Section
|
|
Section
310 (a)(1)
|
7.10
|
|
(a)(2)
|
7.10
|
|
(a)(3)
|
N.A.
|
|
(a)(4)
|
N.A.
|
|
(a)(5)
|
7.10
|
|
(b)
|
7.08;
7.10
|
|
(c)
|
N.A.
|
|
Section
311 (a)
|
7.11
|
|
(b)
|
7.11
|
|
(c)
|
N.A.
|
|
Section
312(a)
|
2.05
|
|
(b)(1)
|
N.A.
|
|
(b)(2)
|
7.06
|
|
(c)
|
7.06;
12.02
|
|
(d)
|
7.06
|
|
Section
314 (a)(1), (2), (3)
|
4.03
|
|
(a)(4)
|
4.04
|
|
(b)
|
N.A.
|
|
(c)(1)
|
10.04
|
|
(c)(2)
|
10.04
|
|
(c)(3)
|
N.A.
|
|
(d)
|
N.A.
|
|
(e)
|
10.05
|
|
(f)
|
N.A.
|
|
Section
315 (a)
|
7.01(b)
|
|
(b)
|
7.05;
10.02
|
|
(c)
|
7.01(a)
|
|
(d)
|
7.01(c)
|
|
(e)
|
6.11
|
|
Section
316(a) (last sentence)
|
2.09
|
|
(a)(1)(A)
|
6.05
|
|
(a)(1)(B)
|
6.04
|
|
(a)(2)
|
N.A.
|
|
(b)
|
6.07
|
|
(c)
|
9.04
|
|
Section
317 (a)(1)
|
6.08
|
|
(a)(2)
|
6.09
|
|
(b)
|
2.04
|
|
Section
318 (a)
|
10.01
|
N.A.
means Not Applicable
NOTE: This
Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the
indenture.
INDENTURE
dated as of __________, 20___, between ZHONGPIN INC., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”), as issuer, and [_______________], a [__________] banking
corporation, as Trustee (the “ Trustee ”).
The
Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to
provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other
evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”),
as herein provided, up to such principal amount as may from time to time be
authorized in or pursuant to one or more resolutions of the Board of
Directors or by supplemental indenture.
Each
party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and
ratable benefit of the Holders of each series of the Securities:
ARTICLE
I
A DEFINITIONS
AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION
1.01. Definitions.
“Affiliate”
means, when used with reference to the Company or another person, any person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect
common control with, the Company or such other person, as the case may be. For
the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any
specified person means the power to direct or cause the direction of management
or 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 of the
foregoing.
“Agent”
means any registrar, Paying Agent, authenticating agent or
co-registrar.
“Board of
Directors” means, with respect to any person, the Board of Directors of a person
or any duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors.
“Board
Resolution” means, with respect to any person, a copy of a resolution
certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of such person to have been
duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such person or any duly authorized
committee thereof and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business
Day” means a day that is not a Legal Holiday as defined in Section
10.07.
“Company”
means the party named as such in this Indenture, or any other obligor under this
Indenture, until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Indenture and
thereafter means the successor.
“Consolidated”
or “consolidated” means, when used with reference to any amount, such amount
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, after the
elimination of intercompany items.
“Consolidated
Assets” means, at a particular date, all amounts which would be included under
total assets on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Corporate
Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time
its corporate services business shall be principally administered, which office
at the date of execution of this Indenture is located at
[__________________].
“Default”
means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would be, an
Event of Default.
“Event of
Default” has the meaning provided in Section 6.01.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended any successor
Statute.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the Accounting
Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such
other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant
segment of the accounting profession, which are applicable from time to
time.
1
“Global
Security” means a Security issued to evidence all or a part of any series of
Securities that is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee to a depositary or pursuant to such depositary’s instructions, all
in accordance with this Indenture and pursuant to Section 2.01, which shall be
registered as to principal and interest in the name of such depositary or its
nominee.
“Holder”
means the person in whose name a Security is registered on the registrar’s
books.
“Indebtedness”
of a Person means all obligations which would be treated as liabilities upon a
balance sheet of such Person prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP.
“Indenture”
means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time,
and shall include the terms of a particular series of Securities established as
contemplated by Section 2.01.
“Lien”
means any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any
kind.
“Obligations”
means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
“Officer”
of any person means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or the Controller of
such person.
“Officers’
Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an
Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary or Assistant Controller of any
person.
“Opinion
of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the
Company.
“Original
Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides that an amount less
than its principal amount is due and payable upon acceleration after an Event of
Default.
“Person”
or “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, association, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
“Redemption
Date” means, with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for
such redemption pursuant to this Indenture.
“Redemption
Price” has the meaning provided in Section 3.03.
“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any government agency
succeeding to its functions.
“Securities”
means the means the securities authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Series”
means a series of Securities established pursuant to this
Indenture.
“Subsidiary”
of any Person means (i) a corporation a majority of whose capital stock with
voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time,
directly or indirectly, owned by such Person or by such Person and a subsidiary
or subsidiaries of such Person or by a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person
or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person or such
Person and a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or a subsidiary or
subsidiaries of such Persons, at the time, directly or indirectly, own at least
a majority voting interest under ordinary circumstances.
2
“TIA”
means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Section 77aaa-77bbbb), as in
effect on the date of this Indenture; provided , however, that in the event the
TIA is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by such
amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended.
“Trustee”
means the party named as such above until a successor becomes such pursuant to
this Indenture and thereafter means or includes each party who is then a trustee
hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such party, “Trustee” as
used with respect to the Securities of any series means the Trustee with respect
to Securities of that series. If Trustees with respect to different series of
Securities are Trustees under this Indenture, nothing herein shall constitute
the Trustees co-Trustees of the same trust, and each Trustee shall be the
Trustee of a trust separate and apart from any trust administered by any other
Trustee with respect to a different series of Securities.
“Trust
Officer” means any officer in the corporate trust department of the Trustee or
any other officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer this
Indenture.
“U.S.
Government Obligations” means (i) direct obligations of the United States of
America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States
of America is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised
by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America,
the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit
obligation by the United States of America and which in either case, are
non-callable at the option of the issuer thereof.
SECTION
1.02. Other Definitions.
Defined
in
|
||||
Term
|
Section
|
|||
“Bankruptcy
Law”
|
6.01 | |||
“Custodian”
|
6.01 | |||
“Legal
Holiday”
|
10.07 | |||
“Paying
Agent”
|
2.03 | |||
“Registrar”
|
2.03 |
SECTION
1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The
following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
“indenture
Securities” means the Securities;
“indenture
Security holder” means a Holder;
“indenture
to be qualified” means this Indenture;
“indenture
Trustee” or “institutional Trustee” means the Trustee; and
“obligor”
on the Securities means the Company and any other obligor on the indenture
Securities.
All other
TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA
reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned
to them by such definitions.
SECTION 1.04. Rules of
Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires: (i) a term has the
meaning assigned to it; (ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the
meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP; (iii) “or” is not exclusive;
(iv) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular; (v) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and (vi)
statements relating to the payment of principal and interest shall include the
payment, premium (if any) and interest.
3
ARTICLE
II
THE
SECURITIES
SECTION
2.01. Unlimited in Amount, Issuable in Series, Form and Dating.
The
aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one
or more series. There shall be established pursuant to a Board Resolution or an
Officers’ Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution or
established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance
of Securities of any series:
(a) The
title, ranking and authorized denominations of such Securities;
(b) The
aggregate principal amount of such Securities and any limit on such aggregate
principal amount;
(c) The
price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which such
Securities will be issued and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the
portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration
of the maturity thereof;
(d) The
date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, on which the
principal of such Securities will be payable;
(e) The
rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method by which such rate
or rates shall be determined, at which such Securities will bear interest, if
any;
(f) The
date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, from which any
such interest will accrue, the dates on which any such interest will be payable,
the record dates for such interest payment dates, or the method by which such
dates shall be determined, the persons to whom such interest shall be payable,
and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
(g) The
place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on such Securities
will be payable, where such Securities may be surrendered for registration of
transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in
respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served;
(h) The
period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which and the
other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may, pursuant to any
optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed, as a whole or in part,
at the option of the Company;
(i) The
obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase such Securities
pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder
thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which
and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be redeemed,
repaid or purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to such
obligation;
(j) If
other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which such Securities are
denominated and payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more
foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and the terms and
conditions relating thereto;
(k)
Whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest, if any, on such Securities may be determined with reference to an
index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may, but need not
be, based on the yield on or trading price of other Securities, including United
States Treasury Securities, or on a currency, currencies, currency unit or
units, or composite currency or currencies) and the manner in which such amounts
shall be determined;
4
(l)
Whether the principal of or interest on the Securities of the series is to be
payable, at the election of the Company or a holder thereof, in a currency or
currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies other
than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the
period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such
election may be made, and the time and manner of, and identity of the exchange
rate agent with responsibility for, determining the exchange rate between the
currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or
currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and
the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or
currencies in which such Securities are to be so payable;
(m)
Provisions, if any, granting special rights to the holders of Securities of the
series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;
(n) Any
deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or
covenants of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or
not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of
Default or covenants described herein;
(o)
Whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay any additional amounts
on such Securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and,
if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities in
lieu of making such payment;
(p)
Whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as registered Securities,
bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any restrictions applicable
to the offer, sale or delivery of bearer Securities and the terms upon which
bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for registered Securities of
the series and vice versa (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations),
whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary
global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in
permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial
owners of interests in any such permanent Global Security may exchange such
interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor or any authorized form
and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur,
if other than in the manner provided in this Indenture, and, if registered
Securities of the series are to be issuable as a Global Security, the identity
of the depositary for such series;
(q) The
date as of which any bearer Securities of the series and any temporary Global
Security representing outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if
other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to
be issued;
(r) The
person to whom any interest on any registered Security of the series shall be
payable, if other than the person in whose name that Security (or one or more
predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular
record date for such interest, the manner in which, or the person to whom, any
interest on any bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise
than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they
severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest
payable on a temporary Global Security on an interest payment date will be paid
if other than in the manner provided in this Indenture;
(s)
Whether such Securities will be issued in certificated or book entry
form;
(t) The
applicability, if any, of the legal defeasance and covenant defeasance
provisions of this Indenture to the Securities of the series;
(u) If
the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether
upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series)
only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of
other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or
conditions;
(v)
Whether the Securities will be listed for trading on an exchange and the
identity of such exchange;
(w)
Whether any underwriters will act as market makers for the
Securities;
(x) Any
guarantees of such Securities by the Company’s Subsidiaries or
others;
(y) The
date or dates, if any, after which the Securities may be converted or exchanged
into or for shares of the Company’s common stock or another company’s securities
or properties or cash and the terms for any such conversion or
exchange;
5
(z) Any
other terms of the series.
The
Securities of any series shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set
forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a written
order of the Company, in each case with such insertions, omission, substitutions
and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may
have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and
such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the
Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed or of the depository,
or to conform to usage.
The
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication shall be in substantially the following
form:
“This is
one of the Securities of the series designated in accordance with, and referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
[____________________],
as Trustee
By: ___________________________
Authorized
Signatory”
SECTION 2.02. Execution and
Authentication. Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by
manual or facsimile signature.
If an
Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time
the Security is authenticated, the Security shall be valid
nevertheless.
A
Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the
Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been
authenticated under this Indenture.
The
Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue upon a written order of
the Company signed by one Officer of the Company.
The
Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company
to authenticate Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such
appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the
Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication
by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or
an Affiliate of the Company.
If the
Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 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 authenticate and deliver one or more Global
Securities that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal
to the aggregate principal amount of all of the Securities of such series to be
issued in the form of Global Securities and not yet canceled, (ii) shall be
registered in the name of the depositary for such Global Security or Securities
or the nominee of such depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to
such depositary or pursuant to such depositary’s instructions, and (iv) shall
bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless and until it is
exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, this
Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to the
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.”
Each
depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.01 must, at the time of its
designation and at all times while it services as depositary, be a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act.
SECTION 2.03. Registrar
and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where
Securities of a particular series may be presented for registration of transfer
or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities may
be presented for payment (the “ Paying Agent ”). The registrar for a
particular series of Securities shall keep a register of the Securities of that
series and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint
one or more co-registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents for each
series of Securities. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying
agent and the term “Registrar” includes any additional registrar. The Company
may change any Paying Agent or registrar without prior notice to any
Holder.
6
The
Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a
party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA and
implement the terms of this Indenture which relate to such Agent. The Company
shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address of any
Agent who is not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or
maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as
such. The Company or any Affiliate of the Company may act as Paying Agent or
Registrar.
The
Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for
each series of Securities unless another Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case
may be, is appointed prior to the time the Securities of that series are first
issued.
SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Assets in
Trust. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than
the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for
the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying Agent for
the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities (whether such money
has been paid to it by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities) and
shall notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company (or any other obligor on
the Securities) in making any such payment. While any such
failure continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held
by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. The
Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to
the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than
the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for
the money so paid over to the Trustee. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the
Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust
fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying
Agent.
SECTION 2.05. Holder
Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is
reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and
addresses of Holders, separately by series, and shall otherwise comply with TIA
Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the registrar, the Company
shall furnish to the Trustee on or before each interest payment date for the
Securities and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list
in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the
names and addresses of Holders, separately by series, relating to such interest
payment date or request, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.06. Registration
of Transfer and Exchange. When Securities of a series are presented to
the registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register their transfer or to
exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other
denominations, the registrar or co-registrar shall register the transfer or make
the exchange if its requirements for such transaction are met. To
permit registrations of transfer and exchanges, the Company shall issue and the
Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the registrar’s or co-registrar’s
request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange, 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
registration, transfer or exchange of Securities other than exchanges pursuant
to Section 2.10, 3.06 or 9.05 not involving any transfer.
The
registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer or
exchange of (i) any Security of a particular series selected for redemption in
whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security of that series
being redeemed in part, or (ii) any Security of a particular series during a
period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any
selection of Securities of that series for redemption under Section 3.02 and
ending at the close of business on the date of selection.
Any
Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall, by acceptance of
such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interest in such
Global Security may be effected only through a book entry system maintained by
the holder of such Global Security (or its agent), and that ownership of a
beneficial interest in the Security shall be required to be reflected in a book
entry system.
SECTION 2.07. Replacement
Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the
Trustee or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost,
destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall
authenticate a replacement Security of the same series if the requirements of
the Trustee and the Company are met; provided that, if any such
Security has been called for redemption in accordance with the terms thereof,
the Trustee may pay the Redemption Price thereof on the Redemption Date without
authenticating or replacing such Security. The Trustee or the Company
may, in either case, require the Holder to provide an indemnity bond sufficient
in the judgment of each of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company,
the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a
Security is replaced or if the Redemption Price therefor is paid pursuant to
this Section. The Company may charge the Holder who has lost a Security for its
expenses in replacing a Security.
7
Every
replacement Security is an obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all
other Securities of the same series.
SECTION 2.08. Outstanding
Securities. The Securities of any series outstanding at any time are all
the Securities of that series authenticated by the Trustee except for those
canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in
this Section as not outstanding.
If a
Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding and
interest ceases to accrue unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it
that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If all
principal of and interest on any of the Securities are considered paid under
Section 4.01, such Securities shall cease to be outstanding and interest on them
shall cease to accrue.
Except as
provided in Section 2.09, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because
the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds such Security.
For each
series of Original Issue Discount Securities, the principal amount of such
Securities that shall be deemed to be outstanding and used to determine whether
the necessary Holders have given any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent or waiver, shall be the principal amount of such Securities that
could be declared to be due and payable upon acceleration upon an Event of
Default as of the date of such determination. When requested by the
Trustee, the Company will advise the Trustee of such amount, showing its
computations in reasonable detail.
SECTION 2.09. Treasury
Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal
amount of Securities of any series have concurred in any direction, waiver or
consent, Securities owned by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall be
considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such
direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which such Trustee actually knows
are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.10. Temporary
Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the
Company may prepare and execute and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary
Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form
of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers
appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the
Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities
in exchange for temporary Securities. Holders of temporary Securities
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION
2.11. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver
Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying
Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for
registration of transfer, exchange, payment or repurchase. The
Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer,
exchange, payment, repurchase, redemption, replacement or cancellation and shall
destroy such Securities (subject to the record retention requirements of the
Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled
Securities shall be promptly delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue
new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or that have been
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally
in use), and the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption or
exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any
such notice shall state that no representation is made as to the correctness of
such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any such
notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers
printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any
defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the
Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
SECTION 2.13. Defaulted
Interest. If the Company fails to make a payment of interest on any
series of Securities, it shall pay such defaulted interest plus (to the extent
lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted interest, in any lawful
manner. It may elect to pay such defaulted interest, plus any
such interest payable on it, to the Persons who are Holders of such Securities
on which the interest is due on a subsequent special record date. The
Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest
proposed to be paid on each such Security. The Company shall fix any
such record date and payment date for such payment. At least 15 days
before any such record date, the Company shall mail to Holders affected thereby
a notice that states the record date, payment date, and amount of such interest
to be paid.
8
SECTION 2.14. Special
Record Dates. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to,
set a record date for the purpose of determining the identity of Holders
entitled to consent to any supplement, amendment or waiver permitted by this
Indenture. If a record date is fixed, the Holders of Securities of that series
outstanding on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to
consent to such supplement, amendment or waiver or revoke any consent previously
given, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No
consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date
unless consents from Holders of the principal amount of Securities of that
series required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective shall
have also been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.
ARTICLE
III
B REDEMPTION
SECTION 3.01. Notices to
Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Securities of any
series pursuant to any optional redemption provisions thereof, it shall notify
the Trustee of the intended Redemption Date and the principal amount of
Securities of that series to be redeemed.
The
Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section and an Officers’
Certificate at least 45 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter period
shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).
SECTION 3.02. Selection of
Securities to Be Redeemed. If fewer than all the Securities of
any series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of that
series to be redeemed from the outstanding Securities of that series to be
redeemed by a method that complies with the requirements of any exchange on
which the Securities of that series are listed, or, if the Securities of that
series are not listed on an exchange, on a pro rata basis or by lot, which in
any case shall be in accordance with a method the Trustee considers fair and
appropriate.
Except as
otherwise provided as to any particular series of Securities, Securities and
portions thereof that the Trustee selects shall be in amounts equal to the
minimum authorized denomination for Securities of the series to be redeemed or
any integral multiple thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to
Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for
redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly in writing of the
Securities or portions of Securities to be called for redemption.
SECTION 3.03. Notice of
Redemption. At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before
the Redemption Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by
first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed at the
address of such Holder appearing in the register.
The
notice shall identify the Securities of the series to be redeemed and shall
state:
(1)
the Redemption Date;
(2)
the redemption price fixed in accordance with the terms of the Securities of the
series to be redeemed, plus accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for
redemption (the “ Redemption Price ”);
(3)
if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount
of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date, upon
surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount
equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued;
(4)
the name and address of the Paying Agent;
9
(5) that
Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to
collect the Redemption Price;
(6) that,
unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, interest on
Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption
Date; and
(7) the
CUSIP number, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed.
At the
Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in
the Company’s name and at its expense. The notice mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not
the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by
mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security shall not affect
the validity of the proceeding for the redemption of any other
Security.
SECTION 3.04. Effect of
Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed,
Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date
at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities
shall be paid at the Redemption Price.
SECTION 3.05. Deposit of
Redemption Price. On or before the Redemption Date, the
Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or if the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the
Company or such Subsidiary shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient
to pay the Redemption Price on all Securities to be redeemed on that date other
than Securities or portions thereof called for redemption on that date which
have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation. The Paying
Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money not required for that
purpose.
SECTION 3.06. Securities
Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part,
the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the
expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series equal in principal
amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE
IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01. Payment of
Securities. The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of
and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in this
Indenture and the Securities. Principal and interest shall be
considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company
or an Affiliate, holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York time on that date immediately
available funds designated for and sufficient to pay all principal and interest
then due. To the extent lawful, the Company shall pay interest on overdue
principal and overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum borne by
the applicable series of Securities.
SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office
or Agency. The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the
City of New York, or in [_______________], an office or agency (which may be an
office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or registrar) where
Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where
notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this
Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the
Trustee of the location, and any change in the 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
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
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; provided,
however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York, or [___________], for such purposes. The
Company shall 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.
The
Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such
office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section
2.03.
10
SECTION 4.03. SEC
Reports. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it
files them with the SEC 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 SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required
to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee
any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential
treatment by the SEC. The Company also shall comply with the other
provisions of TIA Section 314 (a).
SECTION 4.04. Compliance
Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within
120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’
Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of
their duties as officers of the Company, they would normally have knowledge of
any failure by the Company to comply with all conditions, or default by the
Company with respect to any covenants, under this Indenture, and further stating
whether or not they have knowledge of any such failure or default and, if so,
specifying each such failure or default and the nature thereof. For
purposes of this Section, such compliance shall be determined without regard to
any period of grace or requirement of notice provided for in this
Indenture. The certificate need not comply with Section
10.04.
SECTION
4.05. Taxes. The Company shall pay prior to delinquency, all
material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except as contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings.
SECTION 4.06. Corporate
Existence. Subject to Article V hereof, the Company shall do
or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and
effect (i) its corporate existence and (ii) the material rights (charter and
statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve
any such right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors or management of
the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer in the
best interests of the Company, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any
material respect to the Holders.
ARTICLE
V
MERGER,
ETC.
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge,
etc. (a) The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or
into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of its assets to, any Person unless: (i) the Person formed by
or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition has been
made, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United
States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
disposition has been made, assumes by supplemental indenture satisfactory in
form to the Trustee all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and
this Indenture; and (iii) immediately after such transaction, and giving effect
thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may merge with another Person or
acquire by purchase or otherwise all or any part of the property or assets of
any other corporation or Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity
is the Company.
(b) In
connection with any consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer or lease
contemplated by this Section 5.01 , the Company shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that
such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer or lease and the
supplemental indenture in respect thereof comply with Article V and the TIA and
that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction
have been complied with.
SECTION 5.02. Successor
Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or
substantially all the assets of the Company in accordance
with Section 5.01 , the successor corporation formed by such
consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor
corporation had been named as the Company herein. In the event of any
such sale or conveyance, but not any such lease, the Company or any successor
corporation which thereafter shall have become such in the manner described in
this Article V shall be discharged from all obligations
and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may be dissolved,
wound up or liquidated.
11
ARTICLE
VI
DEFAULTS
AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. Events of
Default. An “Event of Default” occurs with respect to Securities of any
particular series, unless in the establishing Board Resolutions, Officers’
Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto, it is provided that such series
shall not have the benefit of any such Event of Default, when any of the
following occurs:
(i) the
Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Security of that series when
it becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30
days;
(ii) the
Company defaults in the payment of the principal of any Security of that series
when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption
or otherwise;
(iii) the
Company fails to comply with any of its other agreements or covenants in, or
provisions of, the Securities of that series or this Indenture and the Default
continues for the period and after the notice specified below;
(iv) the
Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: (A) commences a
voluntary case or proceeding, (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief
against it in an involuntary case or proceeding, (C) consents to the appointment
of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or (D)
makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(v) a
court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy
Law that: (A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case or
proceeding, (B) appoints a Custodian for the Company or for all or substantially
all of the Company’s property, or (C) orders the liquidation of the
Company;
and in
case of (v) the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60
days.
The term
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the U.S. Code or any similar Federal or state
law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, Trustee,
assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy
Law.
A Default
under clause (iii) of this Section 6.01 is not an Event of Default with respect
to a particular series of Securities until the Trustee notifies the Company in
writing, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding
Securities of that series notify the Company and the Trustee, in writing, of the
Default, and the Company does not cure the Default within 30 days after receipt
of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied
and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default”.
SECTION
6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other
than an Event of Default specified in clause (iv) or (v) of Section
6.01 ) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of
the principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series, by written
notice to the Company may declare due and payable 100% of the principal amount
(or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as
may be provided for in such Securities) of the Securities of that series plus
any accrued interest to the date of payment. Upon a declaration of acceleration,
such principal (or such lesser amount) and accrued interest to the date of
payment shall be due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause
(iv) or (v) of Section 6.01 occurs, all unpaid principal and accrued interest on
the Securities shall become and be immediately due and payable without any
declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
The
Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities of
that series by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its
consequences if (i) all existing Events of Default other than the nonpayment of
principal (or such lesser amount) of or interest on the Securities of that
series which have become due solely because of the acceleration, have been cured
or waived and (ii) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree
of a court of competent jurisdiction.
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SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If
an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of
Securities, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or
in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities
of that series or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities
of that series or this Indenture.
The
Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the
Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing
upon the Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a
waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is
exclusive of any other remedy. All remedies are cumulative to the
extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of
Past Defaults. Subject to Sections 6.07 and 9.02, the Holders
of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any
series by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of
Default and its consequences with respect to that series, except a Default in
the nonpayment of the principal of or interest on any Security of that series (
provided , however , that the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series may rescind an
acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that
resulted from such acceleration) . When a Default or Event of Default is waived,
it is cured and ceases.
SECTION 6.05. Control by
Majority. The Holders of at least a majority in principal
amount of the outstanding Securities of any series may direct the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee
or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the
Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this
Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights
of other Holders or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability. The
Trustee may take any other action which it deems proper which is not
inconsistent with any such direction.
SECTION 6.06. Limitation
on Suits. A Holder of Securities of any series may not pursue
a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of that series unless:
(i) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of
Default with respect to such series; (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series make a
written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy; (iii) such Holder or
Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any
loss, liability, cost or expense; (iv) the Trustee does not comply with the
request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity;
and (v) during such 60-day period the Holders of at least a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series do not give the
Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
A Holder
may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to
obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.
SECTION 6.07. Rights of
Holders To Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Security to receive
payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Security on or after the
respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Security, or to bring suit
for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall
not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.
SECTION 6.08. Collection
Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or
(ii) occurs and is continuing with respect to Securities of any series, the
Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as Trustee of an express trust
against the Company for the whole amount of principal (or such portion of the
principal as may be specified as due upon acceleration at that time in the terms
of that series of Securities) and accrued interest, if any, remaining unpaid on
the outstanding Securities of that series, together with (to the extent lawful)
interest on overdue principal and interest, and such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover the costs and, to the extent lawful, expenses of collection,
including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee
under Section 7.07 .
SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs
of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or
documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the
Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceeding relative to the
Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its creditors or its
property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member, voting
or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter
and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable
on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian in any such
judicial proceedings 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 to
it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07 . 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.
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SECTION
6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money
pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following
order:
FIRST: to
the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07,
including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all
advances made by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of
collection;
SECOND: to
Holders of any particular series of Securities for amounts due and unpaid on the
Securities of such series for principal and interest, if any, ratably, without
preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on
the Securities of such series for principal and interest, respectively;
and
THIRD: to
the Company or any other obligors on the Securities of that series, as their
interests may appear, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may
direct.
The
Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Company, may fix a record date and
payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. The
Trustee shall notify the Company in writing reasonably in advance of any such
record date and payment date.
SECTION 6.11. Undertaking
for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right
or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action
taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the
filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of
the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit,
having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses
made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a
suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by
Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities
of that series.
ARTICLE
VII
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. Duties of
Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in
it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their
exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in
the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) Except
during the continuance of an Event of Default: (1) the Trustee need perform only
those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture or the TIA, and
no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against
the Trustee and (2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions
which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the
Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine
whether or not, on their face, they conform to the requirements of this
Indenture.
(c) The
Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own
negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct except that: (1) this
paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01, (2)
the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good
faith by a Trust Officer or other officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee
was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts and (3) the Trustee shall not
be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in
accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05
..
(d) Whether
or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in
any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) of
this Section 7.01 .
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(e) No
provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own
funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any
duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to
it against any loss, liability, cost or expense (including, without limitation,
reasonable fees of counsel).
(f) The
Trustee shall not be obligated to pay interest on any money or other assets
received by it unless otherwise agreed in writing with the
Company. Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law.
SECTION 7.02. Rights of
Trustee. Subject to Section 7.01:
(a) The
Trustee may conclusively rely on any document (whether in its original or
facsimile form) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed
or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate
any fact or matter stated in the document. The Trustee shall receive
and retain financial reports and statements of the Company as provided herein,
but shall have no duty to review or analyze such reports or statements to
determine compliance under covenants or other obligations of the
Company.
(b) Before
the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’
Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be
liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on an
Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The
Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible
for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
(d) The
Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good
faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, unless
the Trustee’s conduct constitutes willful misconduct or negligence.
(e) The
Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of
counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the
Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from
liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in
good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such
counsel.
(f) The
Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default
unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless
written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the
Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and such notice references
the Securities and this Indenture.
(g) The
rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee,
including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and
shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to
each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(h) The
Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers
vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the
Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall
have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs,
expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.
(i) 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 request, and in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct
on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel.
(j) The
Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting
for the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such times
to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’
Certificate may be signed by any person specified as so authorized in any such
certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
15
SECTION 7.03. Individual
Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its
individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities
and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do
the same with like rights. However, the Trustee is subject to
Sections 7.10 and 7.11 .
SECTION
7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The
Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture
or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the
proceeds from the Securities and it shall not be responsible for any statement
in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.05. Notice of
Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default with respect
to the Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, and if it is known to
the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a notice of the Default or Event
of Default within 90 days after the occurrence thereof. Except in the
case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of any such Security, the
Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines
that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.
SECTION 7.06. Reports by
Trustee to Holders. The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such
reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be
required by TIA Section 3.13 at the times and in the manner provided by the TIA,
which shall initially be not less than every twelve months commencing on and may
be dated as of a date up to 75 days prior to such transmission.
A copy of
each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the SEC,
if required, and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Securities are
listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the
Securities of any series are listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION 7.07. Compensation
and Indemnity. The Company shall be liable for paying to the
Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this
Indenture and services hereunder as the Company and the Trustee shall from time
to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not
be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express
trust. The Company shall be liable for reimbursing the Trustee upon
request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it,
including costs of collection, costs of preparing and reviewing reports,
certificates and other documents, costs of preparation and mailing of notices to
Securityholders and reasonable costs of counsel retained by the Trustee in
connection with the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel or otherwise, in addition
to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the
reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company shall
indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, damages, claims or
expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it
without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part in connection
with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties
hereunder, including the costs and expense of enforcing this Indenture
(including this Section 7.07 ) and of defending itself against any
claims (whether asserted by any Securityholder, the Company or
otherwise). Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not
relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall
defend the claim, and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the
Company’s expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate
counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel,
provided that the Company shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if
it assumes the Trustee’s defense, and, in the reasonable judgment of outside
counsel to the Trustee, there is no conflict of interest between the Company and
the Trustee in connection with such defense. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any
loss, liability or expense which is finally determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to have been incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own
willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.
To secure
the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien
prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the
Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and
interest on particular Securities. Such lien shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Trustee’s right to
receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.07 shall not be
subordinate to any other liability or Indebtedness of the Company.
The
Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this
Section shall survive the discharge of this Indenture. When the
Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in
clause (iv) or clause (v) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Company, the
expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
Bankruptcy Law.
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SECTION 7.08. Replacement
of Trustee. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and
appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the
successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section
7.08.
The
Trustee may resign and be discharged from the trust hereby created with respect
to one or more or all series of Securities by so notifying the Company in
writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to that
series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The
Company may remove the Trustee with respect to one or more or all series of
Securities if: (i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section
7.10 or TIA Section 310; (ii) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or
an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under
any Bankruptcy Law; (iii) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the
Trustee or its property; or (iv) the Trustee becomes incapable of
acting.
If, as to
any series of Securities, the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy
exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly
appoint a successor Trustee for that series of Securities. The
Trustee shall be entitled to payment of its fees and reimbursement of its
expenses while acting as Trustee. Within one year after the successor
Trustee takes office, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount
of then outstanding Securities of that series may appoint a successor
Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
Any
Holder of Securities of that series may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
Trustee if the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10.
A
successor Trustee as to any series of Securities shall deliver a written
acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the
Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee
shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights,
powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The Company
shall mail a notice of the successor Trustee’s succession to the
Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property
held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for
in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this
Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall
continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses,
losses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
In case
of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring
Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more
series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each
successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such
provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to
vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which
the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) shall contain such
provisions as shall be 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 or desirable to
provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more
than one Trustee; provided , however , that nothing herein
or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees to be
co-Trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a
trust hereunder separate and apart from any trust hereunder administered by any
other such Trustee.
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.
SECTION 7.09. Successor
Trustee by Merger, Etc. Subject to Section 7.10, if the Trustee
consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially
all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking
association, the successor entity without any further act shall be the successor
Trustee as to that series of Securities.
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility;
Disqualification. Each series of Securities shall always have
a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a) (1), (2) and (5).
The Trustee as to any series of Securities shall always have a combined capital
and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published
annual report of condition. The Trustee is subject to TIA Section
310(b).
SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection
of Claims Against the Company. The Trustee is subject to TIA Section
311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311 (b). A
Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a)
to the extent indicated therein.
17
ARTICLE
VIII
DISCHARGE
OF INDENTURE
SECTION 8.01. 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), and the Trustee, at
the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture,
when
(a)
either
(i) all
Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that
have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all
such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation
(1) have
become due and payable, or
(2) will
become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or
(3) 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, or
(4) are
deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.03, as applicable;
and the
Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be
deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the
purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and
interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have
become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to 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 herein provided for relating
to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied
with.
Notwithstanding
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company
to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and, if money shall have been deposited with
the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section or if money or obligations
shall have been deposited with or received by the Trustee pursuant to Section
8.03, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 8.02 and Section
8.05 shall survive.
SECTION
8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
(a)
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.05, all money deposited with the Trustee
pursuant to Section 8.01, all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited
with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 and all money received by the
Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee
pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 , 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 interest for whose payment such money has
been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund
payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.03 and 8.04
..
18
(b) The
Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other
charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations deposited
pursuant to Sections 8.03 or 8.04 or the interest and principal received in
respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of
Holders.
(c) The
Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request
of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or money held by it as provided
in Sections 8.03 or 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm
of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification
thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which
then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such
U.S. Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision
shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations
held under this Indenture.
SECTION 8.03. Legal
Defeasance of Securities of any Series. Unless this Section
8.03 is otherwise specified to be inapplicable to Securities of any series, the
Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on
all the outstanding Securities of any such series on the 91st day after the date
of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, and the provisions of
this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such series,
shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company,
shall, upon the request of the Company, execute proper instruments acknowledging
the same), except as to:
(i) the
rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust funds
described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (x) payment of the principal of an each
installment of principal of or interest on the outstanding Securities of such
series on the stated maturity of such principal of or interest and (y) the
benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of
such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance
with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series;
(ii) the
Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities of such series under
Sections 2.03, 2.06 and 2.07 ; and
(iii) the
rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the duties of
the Trustee under Section 8.02 and the duty of the Trustee to
authenticate Securities of such series issued on registration of transfer of
exchange;
provided
that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) the
Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the
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, cash in U.S. Dollars and/or U.S.
Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in
respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without
reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not
later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in
cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the
Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory
sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest, if any, on all the
Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or
principal are due;
(b) such
deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default
under, this Indenture;
(c) no
Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall
have occurred on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after
the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default specified
in Section 6.0l (iv) or (v) with respect to the Company occurs which is
continuing at the end of such period;
(d) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or
there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii)
since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change
in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect
that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders
of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for
Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and
discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in
the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
19
(e) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating
that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the
Holders of the Securities of such series over any other creditors of the Company
or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other
creditors of the Company;
(f) such
deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an
investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from
regulation thereunder; and
(g) the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the
defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
SECTION 8.04. Covenant
Defeasance. Unless this Section 8.04 is otherwise inapplicable
to Securities of any series, on and after the 91st day after the date of the
deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply
with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.03, 4.04 and
4.05 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture
hereto for a particular series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an
Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.01 (and the failure to
comply with any such provisions shall not constitute a Default or Event of
Default under Section 6.01 ) and the occurrence of any event
described in clause (e) of Section 6.01 shall not constitute a Default or Event
of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided
that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) With
reference to this Section 8.04, the Company has deposited or caused to be
irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.03 ) with the
Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as Security for, and
dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, cash in U.S.
Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest
and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide
(and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such
Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of
money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal and interest,
if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such
series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are
due;
(b) Such
deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default
under, this Indenture;
(c) No
Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall
have occurred on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after
the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default specified
in Section 6.01 (iv) or (v) with respect to the Company occurs which is
continuing at the end of such period;
(d) The
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming
that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or
loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and 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 deposit and
defeasance had not Occurred;
(e) The
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the
deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of
the Securities of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with
the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors
of the Company; and
(f) The
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided
for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied
with.
SECTION 8.05. Repayment to
Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the
Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or
interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such
payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to
the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless
an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
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ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENTS,
SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
SECTION 9.01. Without
Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee may amend this
Indenture or the Securities without the consent of any Holder: (i) to cure any
ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or make any change required to qualify the
indenture under the TIA, provided that such change does not adversely affect the
rights hereunder of any Holder in any material respect; (ii) to comply
with Section 5.01 ; (iii) to provide for uncertificated Securities in
addition to certificated Securities; (iv) to make any change that does not
adversely affect in any material respect the rights hereunder of any Holder; (v)
to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in
respect of one or more series of Securities, provided , however , that any such
addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of
any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and
entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the
holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become
effective only when there is no outstanding Security of any series created prior
to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of
such provisions; or (vi) to establish additional series of Securities as
permitted by Section 2.01 .
SECTION 9.02. With Consent
of Holders. The Company
and the Trustee as to any series of Securities may amend this Indenture or the
Securities of that series or waive compliance in any particular instance with
any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of that series, in each case
with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding Securities of that series.
Without
the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section
may not: (i) reduce the principal amount of Securities, whose Holders must
consent to an amendment or waiver; (ii) reduce the rate of or change the time
for payment of interest on any Security; (iii) change the date on which any
Security may be subject to redemption or repurchase, or reduce the redemption or
repurchase price therefor; (iv) make any Security payable in currency other than
that stated in the Security; or (v) make any change in Section 6.04, 6.07 or
this sentence.
It shall
not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve
the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be
sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
An
amendment or waiver under this Section which waives, changes or eliminates any
covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included
solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which
modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to
such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under
this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
The
Company will mail supplemental indentures to Holders upon request. Any failure
of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however,
in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or
waiver.
SECTION 9.03. Compliance
with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or
the Securities shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture that complies with
the TIA as then in effect.
SECTION 9.04. Revocation
and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment or waiver becomes
effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by
the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security
that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if
notation of the consent is not made on any Security; provided,
however , that unless a record date shall have been established pursuant to
Section 2.14, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to
his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives written notice of
revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. An
amendment or waiver becomes effective on receipt by the Trustee of consents from
the Holders of the requisite percentage principal amount of the outstanding
Securities of any series, and thereafter shall bind every Holder of Securities
of that series.
SECTION 9.05. Notation
on or Exchange of
Securities. If an amendment or waiver changes the terms of a
Security: (a) the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver such
Security to the Trustee, the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the
Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder and the Trustee may
place an appropriate notation on any Security thereafter authenticated; or (b)
if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the
Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that
reflects the changed terms.
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SECTION 9.06. Trustee to
Sign Amendment, etc. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized
pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the
rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does,
the Trustee may, but need not sign it. In signing or refusing to sign
such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully
protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as
conclusive evidence that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof
(including Section 9.03 ).
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act
Controls. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA which
are required to be part of this Indenture, and shall, to the extent applicable,
be governed by such provisions.
SECTION
10.02. Notices. Any notice or communication to the Company or
the Trustee is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by
first-class mail to the address set forth below:
If to the
Company:
00
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxx Province
People’s
Republic of China 461500
Attention: Chief
Financial Officer
with a
copy to:
O’Melveny
& Xxxxx LLP
37th
floor, Yin Tai Centre
Office
Tower
Xx. 0
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
0000000, Xxxxx
Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
If to the
Trustee:
[____________________]
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
Attention: ____________
With a
copy to:
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
Attention: ____________
The
Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or
different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any
notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his
address shown on the register kept by the registrar. Failure to mail
a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in such notice or
communication shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other
Holders.
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If a
notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above within
the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it,
except that notice to the Trustee shall only be effective upon receipt thereof
by the Trustee.
If the
Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the
Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
SECTION
10.03. Communication by Holders with Other
Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with
other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the
Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the registrar and anyone else shall have
the protection of TIA Section 312 (c)
SECTION 10.04. Certificate
and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or
application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this
Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee: (1) an Officers’
Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 10.05)
stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and
covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been complied with; and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall
include the statements set forth in Section 10.05) stating that, in the opinion
of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied
with.
SECTION 10.05. Statements
Required in Certificate
or Opinion. Each certificate (other than certificates provided pursuant
to Section 4.04 ) or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include: (i) a
statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such
covenant or condition; (ii) 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; (iii) a statement that, in the
opinion of such person, he or she 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 (iv) a statement as to
whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has
been complied with; provided , however , that with respect
to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate
or certificate of public officials.
SECTION 10.06. Rules by Trustee
and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action
by or for a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may
make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its
functions.
SECTION 10.07. Legal
Holidays. A “Legal
Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the
City of New York are not required or authorized to be open. If a
payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at
that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no
interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
SECTION 10.08. Duplicate
Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this
Indenture. One signed copy is enough to prove this
Indenture.
SECTION 10.09. Governing
Law. The internal laws of the State of New York shall govern
this Indenture and the Securities, without regard to the conflicts of Law rules
thereof.
SECTION 10.10. No Adverse
Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be
used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or
any subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be
used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION
10.11. Successors. All agreements of the Company in
this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their respective successors. All
agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its
successor.
SECTION
10.12. Severability. 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.
[Signature
Page Follows]
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SECTION 10.13. Counterpart
Originals. This Indenture may be signed in one or more counterparts. Each
signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
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