THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A
SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE
REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE
THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
No. 1 CUSIP: __________
TORTOISE NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY CORPORATION
$40,000,000 Aggregate Principal amount Tortoise Notes, Series A Due 20__
Tortoise North American Energy Corporation, a Maryland Corporation,
promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of Forty
Million Dollars on ___, 20__.
Additional provisions of the Series A Tortoise Notes are set forth on the
other side hereof.
Dated: _____, 2006
TORTOISE NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY
CORPORATION
By:
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
Attest:
By:
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Secretary
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series
designated herein and referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: ___, 2006
THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
AS TRUSTEE
By:
-----------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
2
FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE
TORTOISE NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY CORPORATION
$40,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SERIES A TORTOISE NOTES DUE
20__
1. Interest
Tortoise North American Energy Corporation, a Maryland corporation
(such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to, being herein called the "Company"), promises to pay
interest on the principal amount of the Series A Tortoise Notes (the "Tortoise
Notes") at the Applicable Rate until maturity.
General. Each series of Tortoise Notes will bear interest at the
Applicable Rate determined as set forth below, payable on the respective dates
set forth below. Interest on the Tortoise Notes shall be payable when due (as
described below). If the Company does not pay interest when due, it will trigger
an event of default under the Indenture (subject to the cure provisions), and
the Company will be restricted from declaring dividends and making other
distributions with respect to its common stock and any preferred stock.
On the Business Day next preceding each Interest Payment Date, the
Company is required to deposit with the Paying Agent sufficient funds for the
payment of interest. The Company does not intend to establish any reserves for
the payment of interest.
All moneys paid to the Paying Agent for the payment of interest shall
be held in trust for the payment of such interest to the Holders. Interest will
be paid by the Paying Agent to the Holders as their names appear on the
securities ledger or securities records of the Company, which Xxxxxx(s) is
expected to be the nominee of the Securities Depository. The Securities
Depository will credit the accounts of the Agent Members of the Holders in
accordance with the Securities Depository's normal procedures. The Securities
Depository's current procedures provide for it to distribute interest in
same-day funds to Agent Members who are, in turn, expected to distribute such
interest to the persons for whom they are acting as agents. The Agent Member of
a beneficial owner will be responsible for holding or disbursing such payments
on the applicable Interest Payment Date to such beneficial owner in accordance
with the instructions of such Holder.
Interest in arrears for any past Rate Period may be subject to a
Default Rate of interest (described below) and may be paid at any time, without
reference to any regular Interest Payment Date, to the Holders as their names
appear on the securities ledger or securities records of the Company on such
date, not exceeding 15 days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed
by the Board of Directors. Any interest payment shall first be credited against
the earliest accrued but unpaid interest. No interest will be payable in respect
of any payment or payments which may be in arrears.
3
The amount of interest payable on each Interest Payment Date of each
Rate Period of less than one (1) year (or in respect of interest on another date
in connection with a redemption during such Rate Period) shall be computed by
multiplying the Applicable Rate (or the Default Rate) for such Rate Period (or a
portion thereof) by a fraction, the numerator of which will be the number of
days in such Rate Period (or portion thereof) that such Tortoise Notes were
outstanding and for which the Applicable Rate or the Default Rate was applicable
and the denominator of which will be 360, multiplying the amount so obtained by
$25,000, and rounding the amount so obtained to the nearest cent. During any
Rate Period of one (1) year or more, the amount of interest per Tortoise Note
payable on any Interest Payment Date (or in respect of interest on another date
in connection with a redemption during such Rate Period) shall be computed as
described in the preceding sentence.
Determination of Interest Rate. The interest rate for the initial Rate
Period (i.e., the period from and including the Original Issue Date to and
including the initial Auction Date) and the initial Auction Date are set forth
on the cover page of the Prospectus. After the initial Rate Period, subject to
certain exceptions, the Tortoise Notes will bear interest at the Applicable Rate
that the Auction Agent advises the Company has resulted from an Auction.
The initial Rate Period for Tortoise Notes Series A shall be __ days.
Rate Periods after the initial Rate Period shall either be Standard Rate Periods
or, subject to certain conditions and with notice to Holders, Special Rate
Periods.
A Special Rate Period will not be effective unless Sufficient Clearing
Bids exist at the Auction in respect of such Special Rate Period (that is, in
general, the aggregate amount of Tortoise Notes subject to Submitted Bids by
Potential Holders is at least equal to the aggregate amount of Tortoise Notes
subject to Sell Orders by Existing Holders).
Interest will accrue at the Applicable Rate from the Original Issue
Date and shall be payable on each Interest Payment Date thereafter. For Rate
Periods of less than 30 days, Interest Payment Dates shall occur on the first
Business Day following such Rate Period and, if greater than 30 days, then on a
monthly basis on the first Business Day of each month within such Rate Period
and on the Business Day following the last day of such Rate Period. Interest
will be paid through the Securities Depository on each Interest Payment Date.
Except during a Default Period as described below, the Applicable Rate
resulting from an Auction will not be greater than the Maximum Rate, which is
equal to the Applicable Percentage of the Reference Rate, subject to upward but
not downward adjustment in the discretion of the Board of Directors after
consultation with the Broker-Dealers. The Applicable Percentage will be
determined based on the lower of the credit ratings assigned on that date to the
Tortoise Notes by Xxxxx'x and Fitch, as follows:
4
XXXXX'X FITCH APPLICABLE
CREDIT RATING CREDIT RATING PERCENTAGE
------------- ------------- ----------
Aa3 or above AA- or above 200%
A3 to A1 A- to A+ 250%
Baa3 to Baa1 BBB- to BBB+ 275%
Below Baa3 Below BBB- 300%
The Reference Rate is the greater of (1) the applicable AA Composite
Commercial Paper Rate (for a Rate Period of fewer than 184 days) or the
applicable Treasury Index Rate (for a Rate Period of 184 days or more), or (2)
the applicable LIBOR. For Standard Rate Periods or less only, the Applicable
Rate resulting from an Auction will not be less than the Minimum Rate, which is
70% of the applicable AA Composite Commercial Paper Rate. No Minimum Rate is
specified for Auctions in respect to Rate Periods of more than the Standard Rate
Period.
The Maximum Rate for the Tortoise Notes will apply automatically
following an Auction for the notes in which Sufficient Clearing Bids have not
been made (other than because all Tortoise Notes were subject to Submitted Hold
Orders). If an Auction for any subsequent Rate Period is not held for any
reason, including because there is no Auction Agent or Broker-Dealer, then the
Interest Rate on the Tortoise Notes for any such Rate Period shall be the
Maximum Rate (except for circumstances in which the Interest Rate is the Default
Rate, as described below).
The All Hold Rate will apply automatically following an Auction in
which all of the outstanding Tortoise Notes are subject to (or are deemed to be
subject to) Submitted Hold Orders. The All Hold Rate is 80% of the applicable AA
Composite Commercial Paper Rate.
Prior to each Auction, Broker-Dealers will notify Holders and the
Trustee of the term of the next succeeding Rate Period as soon as practicable
after the Broker-Dealers have been so advised by the Company. After each
Auction, on the Auction Date, Broker-Dealers will notify Holders of the
Applicable Rate for the next succeeding Rate Period and of the Auction Date of
the next succeeding Auction.
Notification of Rate Period. The Company will designate the duration of
subsequent Rate Periods of each series of Tortoise Notes; provided, however,
that no such designation is necessary for a Standard Rate Period and, provided
further, that any designation of a Special Rate Period shall be effective only
if (i) notice thereof shall have been given as provided herein, (ii) any failure
to pay in a timely manner to the Trustee the full amount of any interest on, or
the redemption price of, Tortoise Notes shall have been cured as provided above,
(iii) Sufficient Clearing Bids shall have existed in an Auction held on the
Auction Date immediately preceding the first day of such proposed Special Rate
Period, (iv) if the Company shall have mailed a Notice of Redemption with
respect to any Tortoise Notes, the redemption price with respect to such
Tortoise Notes shall have been deposited with the Paying Agent, and (v) the
Company has confirmed that as of the Auction Date next preceding the first day
of such Special Rate Period, it has Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted
Value at least equal to the Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount, and the
Company has consulted with the Broker-Dealers and has provided notice of such
designation and otherwise complied with the Rating Agency Guidelines.
5
Designation of a Special Rate Period. If the Company proposes to
designate any Special Rate Period, not fewer than seven (7) (or two (2) Business
Days in the event the duration of the Rate Period prior to such Special Rate
Period is fewer than eight (8) days) nor more than 30 Business Days prior to the
first day of such Special Rate Period, notice shall be (i) made by press release
and (ii) communicated by the Company by telephonic or other means to the Trustee
and confirmed in writing promptly thereafter. Each such notice shall state (A)
that the Company proposes to exercise its option to designate a succeeding
Special Rate Period, specifying the first and last days thereof and (B) that the
Company will by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day next
preceding the first day of such Special Rate Period, notify the Auction Agent
and the Trustee, who will promptly notify the Broker-Dealers, of either (x) its
determination, subject to certain conditions, to proceed with such Special Rate
Period, subject to the terms of any Specific Redemption Provisions, or (y) its
determination not to proceed with such Special Rate Period, in which latter
event the succeeding Rate Period shall be a Standard Rate Period.
No later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day
next preceding the first day of any proposed Special Rate Period, the Company
shall deliver to the Trustee and the Auction Agent, who will promptly deliver to
the Broker-Dealers and Existing Holders, either:
(i) a notice stating (A) that the Company has determined to designate
the next succeeding Rate Period as a Special Rate Period, specifying the first
and last days thereof and (B) the terms of any Specific Redemption Provisions;
or
(ii) a notice stating that the Company has determined not to exercise
its option to designate a Special Rate Period.
If the Company fails to deliver either such notice with respect to any
designation of any proposed Special Rate Period to the Auction Agent and the
Auction Agent is unable to make the confirmation described above by 3:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the second Business Day next preceding the first day of
such proposed Special Rate Period, the Company shall be deemed to have delivered
a notice to the Auction Agent with respect to such Rate Period to the effect set
forth in clause (ii) above, thereby resulting in a Standard Rate Period.
Default Period. Subject to cure provisions, a Default Period with
respect to a particular series of Tortoise Notes will commence on any date the
Company fails to deposit irrevocably in trust in same-day funds, with the Paying
Agent by 12:00 noon, New York City time,
(A) the full amount of any declared interest on that series payable on
the Interest Payment Date (an "Interest Default"), or
(B) the full amount of any redemption price (the "Redemption Price")
payable on the date fixed for redemption (the "Redemption Date") (a "Redemption
Default" and together with an Interest Default, hereinafter referred to as
"Default").
6
Subject to cure provisions, a Default Period with respect to an
Interest Default or a Redemption Default shall end on the Business Day on which,
by 12:00 noon, New York City time, all unpaid interest and any unpaid Redemption
Price shall have been deposited irrevocably in trust in same-day funds with the
Paying Agent. In the case of an Interest Default, the Applicable Rate for each
Rate Period commencing during a Default Period will be equal to the Default
Rate, and each subsequent Rate Period commencing after the beginning of a
Default Period shall be a Standard Rate Period; provided, however, that the
commencement of a Default Period will not by itself cause the commencement of a
new Rate Period.
No Auction shall be held during a Default Period with respect to an
Interest Default applicable to that series of Tortoise Notes. No Default Period
with respect to an Interest Default or Redemption Default shall be deemed to
commence if the amount of any interest or any Redemption Price due (if such
default is not solely due to the willful failure of the Company) is deposited
irrevocably in trust, in same-day funds with the Paying Agent by 12:00 noon, New
York City time within three Business Days after the applicable Interest Payment
Date or Redemption Date, together with an amount equal to the Default Rate
applied to the amount of such non-payment based on the actual number of days
comprising such period divided by 360 for each series. The Default Rate shall be
equal to the Reference Rate multiplied by three (3).
2. Trustee, Paying Agent and Auction Agent
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking
association (together with its successors, the "Trustee"), will act as Paying
Agent with respect to the Tortoise Notes unless and until another entity
appointed by a resolution of the Board of Directors enters into an agreement
with the Company to serve as paying agent, which paying agent may be the same as
the Trustee or the Auction Agent.
The Bank of New York, a national banking association duly organized and
operating under the laws of the United States of America, will act as Auction
Agent unless and until another commercial bank, trust company, or other
financial institution appointed by a resolution of the Board of Directors enters
into an agreement with the Company to follow the Auction Procedures for the
purpose of determining the Applicable Rate.
3. Indenture
The Company issued the Tortoise Notes under an Indenture dated as of ___,
2006, and a Supplemental Indenture dated ____, 2006 collectively, the
"Indenture"), between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of the Tortoise
Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture
by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 X.X.X.xx.xx. 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the "Act"). Capitalized terms used
herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Indenture. The Tortoise Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders of
Tortoise Notes are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of
those terms.
The aggregate principal amount of Tortoise Notes which may be
authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited (per Section 3.1 of
the Indenture). The Tortoise Notes
7
are one of the Auction Rate Senior Notes referred to in the Indenture. The
Indenture imposes certain limitations on, among other things, the issuance of
debt and redeemable stock by the Company, the payment of dividends and other
distributions and acquisitions or retirements of the Company's capital stock and
transactions with Affiliates.
4. Optional Redemption
To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and Maryland law, the
Company at its option may redeem Tortoise Notes having a Rate Period of one year
or less, in whole or in part, out of funds legally available therefor, on the
Interest Payment Date upon not less than 15 days' and not more than 40 days'
prior notice. This optional redemption is not available during the initial Rate
Period or during any period during which the Company does not have the option to
redeem Tortoise Notes. The optional redemption price shall be equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Tortoise Notes to be redeemed, plus an amount
equal to accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. Tortoise Notes
having a Rate Period of more than one year are redeemable at the option of the
Company, in whole or in part, out of funds legally available therefor, prior to
the end of the relevant Rate Period, upon not less than 15 days' and not more
than 40 days' prior notice, subject to any Specific Redemption Provisions, which
may include the payment of redemption premiums. The Company shall not effect any
optional redemption unless after giving effect thereto (1) the Company has
available on such date fixed for the redemption certain Deposit Securities with
maturity or tender dates not later than the day preceding the applicable
redemption date and having a value not less than the amount (including any
applicable premium) due to Holders of a series of Tortoise Notes by reason of
the redemption of a series of Tortoise Notes and (2) the Company would have
Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value at least equal to the
Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount immediately subsequent to such
redemption.
The Company also reserves the right to repurchase Tortoise Notes in
market or other transactions from time to time in accordance with applicable law
and at a price that may be more or less than the principal amount of the
Tortoise Notes, but is under no obligation to do so.
5. Mandatory Redemption
If the Company fails to maintain Eligible Assets with an aggregate
Discounted Value at least equal to the Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount
as of any Valuation Date or, fails to satisfy the 1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset
Coverage as of the last Business Day of any month, and such failure is not cured
within ten Business Days following such Valuation Date in the case of a failure
to maintain the Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount or on the last Business
Day of the following month in the case of a failure to maintain the 1940 Act
Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage as of such last Business Day (each an "Asset
Coverage Cure Date"), the Tortoise Notes will be subject to mandatory redemption
out of funds legally available therefor.
The aggregate principal amount of Tortoise Notes to be redeemed in such
circumstances will be equal to the lesser of (1) the minimum principal amount of
Tortoise Notes the redemption of which, if deemed to have occurred immediately
prior to the opening of business on the relevant Asset Coverage Cure Date, would
result in the Company having Eligible Assets with an
8
aggregated Discounted Value at least equal to the Tortoise Notes Basic
Maintenance Amount or sufficient to satisfy the 1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset
Coverage, as the case may be, in either case as of the relevant Asset Coverage
Cure Date (provided that, if there is no such minimum principal amount of
Tortoise Notes the redemption of which would have such result, all Tortoise
Notes then outstanding will be redeemed), and (2) the maximum principal amount
of Tortoise Notes that can be redeemed out of funds expected to be available
therefor on the Mandatory Redemption Date (as defined below) at the Mandatory
Redemption Price (as defined below).
Any redemption of less than all of the outstanding Tortoise Notes of a
series will be made from Tortoise Notes designated by the Company. The Company
shall designate Tortoise Notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis among the
Holders in proportion to the principal amount of Tortoise Notes they hold, by
lot or such other method as the Company shall deem equitable. No optional or
mandatory redemption of less than all outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series
will be made unless the aggregate principal amount of Tortoise Notes to be
redeemed is equal to $25,000 or integral multiples thereof. Any redemption of
less than all Tortoise Notes outstanding will be made in such a manner that all
Tortoise Notes outstanding after such redemption are in authorized
denominations.
The Company is required to effect such a mandatory redemption not later
than 40 days after the Asset Coverage Cure Date, as the case may be (the
"Mandatory Redemption Date"), except that if the Company does not have funds
legally available for the redemption of, or is not otherwise legally permitted
to redeem, all of the outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series, which are subject
to mandatory redemption, or the Company otherwise is unable to effect such
redemption on or prior to such Mandatory Redemption Date, the Company will
redeem those Tortoise Notes on the earliest practicable date on which the
Company will have such funds available, upon notice to record owners of Tortoise
Notes and the Paying Agent. The Company's ability to make a mandatory redemption
may be limited by the provisions of the 1940 Act or Maryland law. The redemption
price per Tortoise Note in the event of any mandatory redemption will be the
principal amount, plus an amount equal to accrued but unpaid interest to the
date fixed for redemption, plus (in the case of a Rate Period of more than one
year) a redemption premium, if any, determined by the Board of Directors after
consultation with the Broker-Dealers and set forth in any applicable Specific
Redemption Provisions (the "Mandatory Redemption Price").
6. Notice of Redemption
Pursuant to Rule 23c-2 under the 1940 Act, the Company will file a
notice of its intention to redeem with the Commission so as to provide at least
the minimum notice required by such Rule or any successor provision (notice
currently must be filed with the Commission generally at least 30 days prior to
the redemption date). The Company shall deliver a notice of redemption to the
Auction Agent and the Trustee containing the information described below at
least three Business Days prior to the giving of notice to Holders in the case
of an optional redemption and on or prior to the 30th day preceding the
Mandatory Redemption Date in the case of a mandatory redemption. The Trustee
will use its reasonable efforts to provide notice to each holder of Tortoise
Notes called for redemption by electronic means not later than the close of
business on the Business Day immediately following the Business Day on which the
Trustee determines the
9
principal amount of Tortoise Notes to be redeemed (or, during a Default Period
with respect to such Tortoise Notes, not later than the close of business on the
Business Day immediately following the day on which the Trustee receives notice
of redemption from the Company). Such notice will be confirmed promptly by the
Trustee in writing not later than the close of business on the third Business
Day preceding the redemption date by providing the notice to each holder of
record of Tortoise Notes called for redemption, the Paying Agent (if different
from the Trustee) and the Securities Depository ("Notice of Redemption"). The
Notice of Redemption will be addressed to the registered owners of the Tortoise
Notes at their addresses appearing on the books or share records of the Company.
Such notice will set forth (1) the date fixed for redemption, (2) the principal
amount and identity of Tortoise Notes to be redeemed, (3) the redemption price
(specifying the amount of accrued interest to be included therein and any
redemption premium, if any), (4) that interest on the Tortoise Notes to be
redeemed will cease to accrue on such date fixed for redemption, (5) available
CUSIP numbers, and (6) the provision under which redemption shall be made. No
defect in the Notice of Redemption or in the transmittal or mailing thereof will
affect the validity of the redemption proceedings, except as required by
applicable law.
If less than all of the outstanding Tortoise Notes of a series are
redeemed on any date, the amount per Holder to be redeemed on such date will be
selected by the Company on a pro rata basis in proportion to the principal
amount of Tortoise Notes held by such Holders, by lot or by such other method as
is determined by the Company to be fair and equitable, subject to the terms of
any Specific Redemption Provisions and subject to maintaining authorized
denominations as described above. Tortoise Notes may be subject to mandatory
redemption as described herein notwithstanding the terms of any Specific
Redemption Provisions. The Trustee will give notice to the Securities
Depository, whose nominee will be the record holder of all of the Tortoise
Notes, and the Securities Depository will determine the Tortoise Notes to be
redeemed from the account of the Agent Member of each beneficial owner. Each
Agent Member will determine the principal amount of Tortoise Notes to be
redeemed from the account of each beneficial owner for which it acts as agent.
An Agent Member may select for redemption Tortoise Notes from the accounts of
some beneficial owners without selecting for redemption any Tortoise Notes from
the accounts of other beneficial owners. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
neither the Securities Depository nor its nominee is the record holder of all of
the Tortoise Notes, the particular principal amount to be redeemed shall be
selected by the Company by lot, on a pro rata basis between each series or by
such other method as the Company shall deem fair and equitable, as contemplated
above.
If Notice of Redemption has been given, then upon the deposit of funds
with the Paying Agent sufficient to effect such redemption, interest on such
Tortoise Notes will cease to accrue and such Tortoise Notes will no longer be
deemed to be outstanding for any purpose and all rights of the owners of the
Tortoise Notes so called for redemption will cease and terminate, except the
right of the owners of such Tortoise Notes to receive the redemption price, but
without any interest or additional amount. The Company shall be entitled to
receive from the Paying Agent, promptly after the date fixed for redemption, any
cash deposited with the Paying Agent in excess of (1) the aggregate redemption
price of the Tortoise Notes called for redemption on such date and (2) such
other amounts, if any, to which holders of Tortoise Notes called for redemption
may be entitled. The Company will be entitled to receive, from time to
10
time after the date fixed for redemption, from the Paying Agent the interest, if
any earned on such funds deposited with the Paying Agent and the owners of
Tortoise Notes so redeemed will have no claim to any such interest. Any funds so
deposited which are unclaimed two years after such redemption date will be paid
to the extent permitted by law, by the Paying Agent to the Company upon its
request. After such payment, holders of Tortoise Notes called for redemption may
look only to the Company for payment.
So long as any Tortoise Notes are held of record by the nominee of the
Securities Depository, the redemption price for such Tortoise Notes will be paid
on the redemption date to the nominee of the Securities Depository. The
Securities Depository's normal procedures provide for it to distribute the
amount of the redemption price to Agent Members who, in turn, are expected to
distribute such funds to the persons for whom they are acting as agent.
Notwithstanding the provisions for redemption described above, no
Tortoise Notes may be redeemed unless all interest in arrears on the Outstanding
Tortoise Notes, and any indebtedness of the Company ranking on a parity with the
Tortoise Notes, have been or are being contemporaneously paid or set aside for
payment, except in connection with the liquidation of the Company in which case
all Tortoise Notes and all indebtedness ranking on a parity with the Tortoise
Notes must receive proportionate amounts and that the foregoing shall not
prevent the purchase or acquisition of all the Outstanding Tortoise Notes
pursuant to the successful completion of an otherwise lawful purchase or
exchange offer made on the same terms to, and accepted by, Holders of all
Outstanding Tortoise Notes.
Except for the provisions described above, nothing contained in the
Indenture limits any legal right of the Company to purchase or otherwise acquire
Tortoise Notes outside of an Auction at any price, whether higher or lower than
the price that would be paid in connection with an optional or mandatory
redemption, so long as, at the time of any such purchase, there is no arrearage
in the payment of interest on or the mandatory or optional redemption price with
respect to, any Tortoise Notes for which Notice of Redemption has been given and
the Company is in compliance with the 1940 Act Tortoise Notes Asset Coverage and
has Eligible Assets with an aggregate Discounted Value at least equal to the
Tortoise Notes Basic Maintenance Amount after giving effect to such purchase or
acquisition on the date thereof. If less than all outstanding Tortoise Notes are
redeemed or otherwise acquired by the Company, the Company shall give notice of
such transaction to the Auction Agent, in accordance with the procedures agreed
upon by the Board of Directors.
7. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange
The Tortoise Notes are in registered form without coupons in
denominations of the Principal Amount of $25,000 and integral multiples thereof.
A Holder may transfer or exchange Tortoise Notes in accordance with the
Indenture. The Company, Security Registrar or Trustee may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents
and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
11
8. Persons Deemed Owners
The registered Holder of Tortoise Notes may be treated as the owner for
all purposes.
9. Unclaimed Money
If money for the payment of Principal or interest remains unclaimed for
two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company,
to the extent permitted by law. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the
money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.
10. Defeasance
Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time may terminate
some or all of its obligations under the Tortoise Notes and the Indenture if the
Company deposits with the Trustee money, U.S. Government Obligations, such other
obligations or arrangements as may be specified, or a combination thereof, in
each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof for
the payment of principal and any premium and interest on the Tortoise Notes on
the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
and such Securities.
11. Amendment, Waiver
Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the
Indenture or the Tortoise Notes may be amended with the written consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in Principal Amount outstanding of the Tortoise
Notes and (ii) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived
with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in Principal Amount
outstanding of the Tortoise Notes. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in
the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder of the Tortoise Notes, the
Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Tortoise Notes: to
evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by
any such successor of the covenants of the Company in the Indenture and in the
Securities; to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for
the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants
are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to
surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company by the Indenture; to add
any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any
series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the
benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional
Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such
series); to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture to such
extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities
in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or
without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities
in uncertificated form; to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of
the Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any
such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (1) 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 (2) modify the rights of the
Holder of any such Security with
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respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no
such Security Outstanding; or to establish the form or terms of Securities of
any series and to increase the aggregate principal amount of any Outstanding
series of Securities, as permitted by the Indenture; to evidence and provide for
the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions
of the Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the
requirements of the Indenture; or to cure any ambiguity, to correct or
supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions
arising under this Indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely
affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material
respect.
12. Events of Default and Acceleration of Maturity; Remedies
Any one of the following events constitutes an "event of default" under
the Indenture:
o default in the payment of any interest upon any series of
Tortoise Notes when it becomes due and payable and the
continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
o default in the payment of any Redemption Price payable on
the Redemption Date;
o default in the payment of the principal of, or premium on,
any series of Tortoise Notes at its Stated Maturity;
o default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or
warranty of the Company in the Indenture (other than a
covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose
breach is specifically dealt with in Section 5.1 of the
Indenture or which has expressly been included in the
Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Tortoise Notes
other than this series), and continuance of such default or
breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given,
by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the
Trustee a written notice specifying such default or breach
and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice
is a "Notice of Default";
o the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of
(A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company
in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable
Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the
Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly
filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company
under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a
custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of
any substantial part of its property, or ordering the
winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the
continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any
such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a
period of 60 consecutive days (provided that, if
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any Person becomes the successor to the Company pursuant to
Article VIII of the Indenture and such Person is a
corporation, partnership or trust organized and validly
existing under the law of a jurisdiction outside the United
States, each reference in this paragraph to an applicable
Federal or State law of a particular kind shall be deemed to
refer to such law or any applicable comparable law of such
non-U.S. jurisdiction, for as long as such Person is the
successor to the Company hereunder and is so organized and
existing);
o the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or
proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any
other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or
insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or
order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary
case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law
or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case
or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition
or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under
any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to
the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or
taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of
the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or
the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its
inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or
the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance
of any such action (provided that, if any Person becomes the
successor to the Company pursuant to Article VIII of the
Indenture and such Person is a corporation, partnership or
trust organized and validly existing under the law of a
jurisdiction outside the United States, each reference in
this paragraph to an applicable Federal or State law of a
particular kind shall be deemed to refer to such law or any
applicable comparable law of such non-U.S. jurisdiction, for
as long as such Person is the successor to the Company
hereunder and is so organized and existing);
o if, pursuant to Section 18(a)(1)(c)(ii) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, on the last business day of
each of twenty-four consecutive calendar months any series
of Tortoise Notes shall have an asset coverage of less than
100%; or
o a default in the payment of any Redemption Price for this
series of Tortoise Notes payable on the Redemption Date; and
o any other "event of default" provided with respect to
Tortoise Notes of this series.
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Tortoise
Notes of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in
every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Tortoise Notes of that series may declare
the principal amount of all the Tortoise Notes of that series (or, in the case
of any Security of that series which specifies an amount to be due and payable
thereon upon
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acceleration of the Maturity thereof, such amount as may be specified by the
terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the
Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration
such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and
payable. If an Event of Default specified above with respect to Tortoise Notes
of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the
Tortoise Notes of that series (or, in the case of any Security of that series
which specifies an amount to be due and payable thereon upon acceleration of the
Maturity thereof, such amount as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall
automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the
Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Tortoise Notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as provided in the
Indenture, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (1) the Company has
paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue
interest on all Tortoise Notes of that series, (B) the principal of (and
premium, if any, on) any Tortoise Notes of that series which have become due
otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at
the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Tortoise Notes, (C) to the extent
that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the
rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Tortoise Notes, and (D) all sums paid
or advanced by the Trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and (2) all
Events of Default with respect to Tortoise Notes of that series, other than the
non-payment of the principal of Tortoise Notes of that series which have become
due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section 5.13 of the Indenture. No such rescission shall affect any
subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
13. Trustee Dealings with the Company
Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under
the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or
pledgee of Tortoise Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company with the same
rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or
such other agent.
14. No Recourse Against Others
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company
or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company
under the Tortoise Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect
of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting the Tortoise
Notes, each Holder of Tortoise Notes waives and releases all such liability. The
waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Tortoise
Notes.
15. Authentication
The Trustee's authentication certificate upon the Tortoise Notes shall
be substantially in the forms provided in the Indenture. No Tortoise Notes shall
be secured or entitled to the benefit of the Indenture, or shall be valid or
obligatory for any purpose, unless a certificate of authentication,
substantially in such form, has been duly executed by the Trustee; and such
certificate of the Trustee upon any Tortoise Notes shall be conclusive evidence
and the only competent evidence that such Bond has been authenticated and
delivered. The Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be deemed to have
been duly executed by it if manually signed by an authorized officer of the
Trustee, but it shall not be necessary that the same person sign the certificate
of authentication on all of the Tortoise Notes issued.
16. Abbreviations
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Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of Tortoise
Notes or an assignee, such as TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants
by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not
as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gift to Minors
Act).
17. CUSIP Numbers
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform
Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be
printed on the Tortoise Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders of Tortoise Notes. No
representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on
the Tortoise Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may
be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Company will furnish to any Holder of Tortoise Notes, upon written
request and without charge to the Holder of Tortoise Notes, a copy of the
Indenture which has in it the text of the Tortoise Notes in larger type.
Requests may be made to: Tortoise North American Energy Corporation, 00000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx.
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ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign these Tortoise Notes, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer these Tortoise Notes to
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)
and irrevocably appoint _______________________ agent to transfer
these Tortoise Notes on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.
Date:______________ Your Signature:______________________________
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