EXHIBIT 4.3
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
TO
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
TRUSTEE
----------------------------------------------
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
DATED AS OF __________ ___, 2002
----------------------------------------------
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO SECTIONS 310
THROUGH 318, INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:
TRUST INDENTURE INDENTURE
ACT SECTION SECTION
--------------- ---------
Section 310(a)(1).......................................... 609
(a)(2).............................................. 609
(a)(3).............................................. Not Applicable
(a)(4).............................................. Not Applicable
(b)................................................. 608, 610
Section 311(a)............................................. 613
(b)................................................. 613
Section 312(a)............................................. 701, 702
(b)................................................. 702
(c)................................................. 702
Section 313(a)............................................. 703
(b)................................................. 703
(c)................................................. 703
(d)................................................. 703
Section 314(a)............................................. 704
(a)(4).............................................. 101, 1004
(b)................................................. Not Applicable
(c)(1).............................................. 102
(c)(2).............................................. 102
(c)(3).............................................. Not Applicable
(d)................................................. Not Applicable
(e)................................................. 102
Section 315(a)............................................. 601
(b)................................................. 602
(c)................................................. 601
(d)................................................. 601
(e)................................................. 514
Section 316(a)............................................. 101
(a)(1)(A)........................................... 502, 512
(a)(1)(B)........................................... 513
(a)(2).............................................. Not Applicable
(b)................................................. 508
(c)................................................. 104
Section 317(a)(1).......................................... 503
(a)(2).............................................. 504
(b)................................................. 1003
Section 318(a)............................................. 107
----------
Note This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE ONE
Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application
Section 101. Definitions.....................................................................................5
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions...........................................................11
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.........................................................11
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates..................................................................12
Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company..........................................................14
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver......................................................................14
Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act..............................................................15
Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.......................................................15
Section 109. Successors and Assigns.........................................................................15
Section 110. Separability Clause............................................................................15
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture..........................................................................15
Section 112. Governing Law..................................................................................15
Section 113. Legal Holidays.................................................................................16
ARTICLE TWO
Security Forms
Section 201. Forms Generally................................................................................16
Section 202. Form of Face of Security.......................................................................16
Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security....................................................................18
Section 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities...........................................................22
Section 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication................................................22
ARTICLE THREE
The Securities
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series...........................................................22
Section 302. Denominations..................................................................................25
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.................................................25
Section 304. Temporary Securities...........................................................................27
Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange............................................28
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities...............................................29
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.................................................30
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners..........................................................................31
Section 309. Cancellation...................................................................................31
Section 310. Computation of Interest........................................................................32
Section 311. CUSIP Numbers..................................................................................32
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 1 -
ARTICLE FOUR
Satisfaction and Discharge
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture........................................................32
Section 402. Application of Trust Money.....................................................................33
ARTICLE FIVE
Remedies
Section 501. Events of Default..............................................................................34
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.............................................35
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee................................36
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim...............................................................37
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities....................................37
Section 506. Application of Money Collected.................................................................37
Section 507. Limitation on Suits............................................................................38
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest......................38
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.............................................................39
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.................................................................39
Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver...................................................................39
Section 512. Control By Holders.............................................................................39
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults........................................................................40
Section 514. Undertaking for Costs..........................................................................40
Section 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws...............................................................40
ARTICLE SIX
The Trustee
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities............................................................40
Section 602. Notice of Defaults.............................................................................41
Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee......................................................................41
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.........................................42
Section 605. May Hold Securities............................................................................42
Section 606. Money Held in Trust............................................................................42
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.................................................................42
Section 608. Conflicting Interests..........................................................................43
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility........................................................43
Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor..............................................44
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.........................................................45
Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business....................................46
Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company..............................................46
Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent............................................................46
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 2 -
ARTICLE SEVEN
Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company
Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders......................................48
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.........................................48
Section 703. Reports by Trustee.............................................................................48
Section 704. Reports by Company.............................................................................49
ARTICLE EIGHT
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer
Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms................................................49
Section 802. Successor Substituted..........................................................................49
ARTICLE NINE
Supplemental Indentures
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.............................................50
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders................................................51
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures...........................................................52
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures..............................................................52
Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act............................................................52
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.............................................52
Section 907. Subordination Unimpaired.......................................................................53
ARTICLE TEN
Covenants
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.....................................................53
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency................................................................53
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust..............................................53
Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default............................................................54
Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants....................................................................55
Section 1006. Calculation of Original Issue Discount.........................................................55
ARTICLE ELEVEN
Redemption of Securities
Section 1101. Applicability of Article.......................................................................55
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee..........................................................55
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed..............................................55
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption...........................................................................56
Section 1105. Securities Payable on Redemption Date..........................................................57
Section 1106. Securities Redeemed in Part....................................................................58
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 3 -
ARTICLE TWELVE
Sinking Funds
Section 1201. Applicability of Article.......................................................................58
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities..........................................58
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund......................................................59
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Section 1301. Applicability of Article.......................................................................59
Section 1302. Defeasance and Discharge.......................................................................59
Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance............................................................................60
Section 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance................................................60
Section 1305. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.......61
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
Subordination
Section 1401. Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness.................................................62
Section 1402. Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior Indebtedness...........................................64
Section 1403. Subrogation....................................................................................64
Section 1404. Obligation of Company Unconditional............................................................64
Section 1405. Payments on Securities Permitted...............................................................65
Section 1406. Effectuation of Subordination by Trustee.......................................................65
Section 1407. Knowledge of Trustee...........................................................................66
Section 1408. Trustee May Hold Senior Indebtedness...........................................................66
Section 1409. Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired..........................................66
Section 1410. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated..................................................................66
Section 1411. Article Applicable to Paying Agents............................................................67
Section 1412. Trustee; Compensation Not Prejudiced...........................................................67
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors
Section 1501. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations..........................................67
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 4 -
INDENTURE dated as of __________ ___, 2002, between Duke Energy Field
Services, LLC, a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company"), having its
principal office at 000 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, a
New York banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called
the "Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called
the "Securities"), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture
provided.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
Now, Therefore, This Indenture Witnesseth:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and
proportionate benefit of all holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as
follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 101. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings
assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the
singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the
meanings assigned to them therein;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly
provided, the term "generally accepted accounting principles" with
respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean
such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United
States of America;
(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case
may be, of this Indenture; and
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 5 -
(5) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other
words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to
any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act," when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified
in Section 104.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of one or more series.
"Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company
or any duly authorized committee of that board.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day," when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means a
day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which banking
institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee is closed for business.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to
time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Company" shall mean such successor Person.
"Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order
signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or
a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which at
any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 000 Xxxx 00xx
Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
"corporation" means a corporation, limited liability company,
association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 6 -
"Covenant Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1303.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.
"Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1302.
"Depositary" means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable
in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary
for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any
statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 104.
"Global Security" means a Security that evidences all or part of the
Securities of any series which is issued to a Depositary or a nominee thereof
for such series in accordance with Section 301(17).
"Government Obligation" has the meaning specified in Section 1304.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Security Register.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof,
including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental
indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture,
respectively. The term "Indenture" shall also include the terms of particular
series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.
"interest," when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount
Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest
payable after Maturity.
"Interest Payment Date," when used with respect to any Security, means
the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Maturity," when used with respect to any Security, means the date on
which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due
and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
"Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in
Section 501(4).
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 7 -
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and
delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate
given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or
accounting officer of the Company.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for the Company, or other counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to
the Trustee.
"Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides
for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon
a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.
"Outstanding," when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the
date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture, except:
(1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(2) Securities for whose payment or redemption the necessary
amount of money or money's worth has been theretofore deposited with
the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or
set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall
act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities;
provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such
redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision
therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;
(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected
pursuant to Section 1302; and
(4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or
in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been
authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any
such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to
the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a
bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid
obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue
Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of
the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon
acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B)
if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a
Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall
be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as
contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated
in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be
Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in
the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of
such Security (or, in the
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 8 -
case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount
determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company
or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of
such other obligor, whether of record or beneficially, shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which the
Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so
owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if
the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right
so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the
Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company
or of such other obligor.
"Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the
Company.
"Periodic Offering" means an offering of Securities of a series from
time to time the specific terms of which Securities, including without
limitation the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or
rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Maturities thereof and
the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by
the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company or corporation, joint venture, trust, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Place of Payment", when used with respect to the Securities of any
series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and
interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as
contemplated by Section 301.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security
authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the
same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
"Redemption Date," when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Redemption Price," when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose
as contemplated by Section 301.
"Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee, means the
chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or any
vice-chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the chairman
of the trust committee, the president, any vice president, the secretary, any
assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier,
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 9 -
any assistant cashier, any senior trust officer, any trust officer or assistant
trust officer, the controller or any assistant controller or any other officer
of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by
any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a
particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
"Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this
Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 305.
"Senior Indebtedness" means, except as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to a particular series of Securities, with respect to any series of
Securities, the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on and any other
payment in respect of indebtedness due pursuant to any of the following, whether
outstanding at the date of execution of this Indenture or thereafter incurred,
created or assumed: (a) all indebtedness of the Company evidenced by notes,
debentures, bonds or other securities sold by the Company for money or other
obligations for money borrowed, (b) all indebtedness of others of the kinds
described in the preceding clause (a) assumed by or guaranteed in any manner by
the Company or in effect guaranteed by the Company through an agreement to
purchase, contingent or otherwise, and (c) all renewals, extensions or
refundings of indebtedness of the kinds described in either of the preceding
clauses (a) and (b), unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness,
renewal, extension or refunding, the instrument creating or evidencing the same
or the assumption or guarantee of the same by its terms provides that such
indebtedness, renewal, extension or refunding is not superior in right of
payment to or is pari passu with such Securities.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
"Stated Maturity," when used with respect to any Security or any
installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified
in such Security as the date on which the principal of such Security or such
installment of principal or interest is due and payable, in the case of such
principal, as such date may be advanced or extended as provided pursuant to the
terms of such Security and this Indenture.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force
at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in
the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust
Indenture Act" shall mean, to the extent required by any such amendment, the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Trustee" shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and
if at any time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 10 -
used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with
respect to Securities of that series.
"Vice President," when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee,
means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or
words added before or after the title "vice president."
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to
the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust
Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an
Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in
this Indenture.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include
(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate
or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions
herein relating thereto;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions
contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual,
he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable
him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant
or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are
erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as
it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, an officer or officers of
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 11 -
the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is
in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise
of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or
representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
Whenever, subsequent to the receipt by the Trustee of any Board
Resolution, Officers' Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or other document or
instrument, a clerical, typographical or other inadvertent or unintentional
error or omission shall be discovered therein, a new document or instrument may
be substituted therefor in corrected form with the same force and effect as if
originally filed in the corrected form and, irrespective of the date or dates of
the actual execution and/or delivery thereof, such substitute document or
instrument shall be deemed to have been executed and/or delivered as of the date
or dates required with respect to the document or instrument for which it is
substituted. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, if any
such corrective document or instrument indicates that action has been taken by
or at the request of the Company which could not have been taken had the
original document or instrument not contained such error or omission, the action
so taken shall not be invalidated or otherwise rendered ineffective but shall be
and remain in full force and effect, except to the extent that such action was a
result of willful misconduct or bad faith. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, any Securities issued under the authority of such defective
document or instrument shall nevertheless be the valid obligations of the
Company entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and ratably with all
other Outstanding Securities, except as aforesaid.
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or
taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly
appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered
to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of
a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and
the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument
or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a
certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument
or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by
a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such
certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
authority. The fact and date of the execution
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 12 -
of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the
same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the
same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of
transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of
anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in
reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such
Security.
The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to
give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series; provided that the
Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice,
declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders,
shall be entitled to take or revoke the relevant action, whether or not such
Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action
shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable
Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this
paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with
no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant
series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set
pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice
of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.
The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join
in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of
acceleration referred to in Xxxxxxx 000, (xxx) any request to institute
proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in
Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be
entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction or to revoke
the same, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date;
provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or
prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal
amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in
this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new
record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set
pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall
automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect),
and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 13 -
render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount
of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is
taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the
Trustee, at the Company's expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the
proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be sent to the
Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in
the manner set forth in Section 106.
With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party
hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the "Expiration
Date" and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or
later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the
proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and
to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in
Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date
is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section,
the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially
designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with
respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided
in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be
later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any
action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to
all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly
appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with
regard to all or any part of such principal amount.
Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to
be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be
sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or
filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office,
Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration, or
(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be
sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein
expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage
prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal
office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention:
Treasurer, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to
the Trustee by the Company.
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later
than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any),
prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is
given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any
notice so mailed, to any
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 14 -
particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to
other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such
notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice,
either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of
such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but
such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action
taken in reliance upon such waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by
reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision
of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and
govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of
this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act
which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to
apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are
for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 109. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall
bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 110. Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied,
shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, their successors
hereunder, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders, any benefit or
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 112. Governing Law.
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of
New York, without regard to conflicts
of laws principles thereof.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 15 -
Section 113. Legal Holidays.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment,
then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities
(other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such
provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal
(and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date,
but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day (except that, if such
Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made
on the immediately preceding Business Day) at such Place of Payment with the
same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption
Date, or at the Stated Maturity.
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS
Section 201. Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set
forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or
pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto,
in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and
other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have
such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any
securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be
determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by
action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of
such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company
Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such
Securities.
The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined
by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of
such Securities.
Section 202. Form of Face of Security.
[Insert any legend required by the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations
thereunder.]
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 16 -
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
---------------------
No. _________ $ _______________
CUSIP No. _______
Duke Energy Field Services, LLC, a limited liability company duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called
the "Company," which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to
______________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________
Dollars on _________________________ [if the Security is to bear interest prior
to Maturity and interest payment periods are not extendable, insert - , and to
pay interest thereon from __________ or from the most recent Interest Payment
Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, [insert -
semi-annually, quarterly, monthly or other description of the relevant payment
period] on [________, ________,] and __________ in each year, commencing
_______________, at the rate of ____% per annum, until the principal hereof is
paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert - , provided that any
principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue
shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to the extent that the
payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such
amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such
interest shall be payable on demand]. The interest so payable, and punctually
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in
such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the [___________________]
(whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such
Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided
for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date
and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and
upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided
in said Indenture].
[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert -
The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a
default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated
Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall
bear interest at the rate of ____% per annum (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due
until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue
principal or premium shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on overdue
principal or premium which is not paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate
of ____% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest on interest
shall be legally enforceable), from the date of such demand until the amount so
demanded is paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue interest
shall be payable on demand.]
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable,
insert - any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in _________________, in such
coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is
legal tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert -;
provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be
made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear in the
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 17 -
Security Register or by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a
banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the
Trustee at least sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person
entitled thereto].
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
By
-------------------------------
Attest:
----------------------------
Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security.
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of __________ ___, 2002 (herein called the
"Indenture," which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee (herein
called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the
respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the
Company, the Trustee, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the
Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on
the face hereof [if applicable, insert - , limited in aggregate principal amount
to $__________]. [If applicable, insert - The Securities of this series are
subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days' notice by mail, [if
applicable, insert - (1) on ____________ in any year commencing with the year
_____ and ending with the year _____ through operation of the sinking fund for
this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and
(2)] at any time [if applicable, insert - on or after ___________, 20__], as a
whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption
Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if
applicable, insert - on or before _________________, ___%, and if REDEEMED]
during the 12-month period beginning _________ of the years indicated,
Year Redemption Price Year Redemption Price
---- ---------------- ---- ----------------
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 18 -
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to ____% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert - (whether
through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to
the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or
prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities,
or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the
relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert - The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 days' notice by mail, (1) on ____________ in
any year commencing with the year ______ and ending with the year _____ through
operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for
redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of
the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if
applicable, insert - on or after _____________], as a whole or in part, at the
election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than
through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal
amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period
beginning ________ of the years indicated,
Redemption Price for Redemption Redemption Price for Redemption
Through Operation of the Otherwise Than Through Operation
Year Sinking Fund of the Sinking Fund
---- ------------------------------- --------------------------------
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to _____% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert - Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may
not, prior to _________, redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by
[if applicable, insert - Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or
in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or
indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company
(calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less
than ____% per annum.]
[If applicable, insert - The sinking fund for this series provides for
the redemption on __________ in each year beginning with the year _______ and
ending with the year ______ of [if applicable, insert - not less than
$___________ ("mandatory sinking fund") and not more than] $____________
aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this
series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if
applicable, insert - mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against
subsequent [if applicable, insert - mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise
required to be made [if applicable, insert - , in the inverse order in which
they become due].]
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 19 -
[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert - In the
event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities
of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be
issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
[If applicable, insert - The Indenture contains provisions for
defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or]
[certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this
Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in
the Indenture.]
[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert -
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]
[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert - If an
Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to [insert formula for determining the
amount]. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable
and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each
case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the
principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series
shall terminate.]
The indebtedness represented by the Securities of this series is, to
the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture, expressly subordinated
in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, as
defined in the Indenture, with respect to this series, and this Security is
issued subject to such provisions, and each Holder of this Security, by
acceptance thereof, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions and
authorizes and directs the Trustee in his, her or its behalf to take such action
as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided
in the Indenture and appoints the Trustee his, her or its attorney-in-fact, as
the case may be, for any and all such purposes.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of all series affected
under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent
of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series
at the time Outstanding affected thereby (voting as one class). The Indenture
contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time Outstanding with
respect to which a default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be
continuing (voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of the Securities of
all such series, to waive, with certain exceptions, such past default with
respect to all such series and its consequences. The Indenture also permits the
Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of
each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities
of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of
the Indenture. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 20 -
this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration
of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal
amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made
written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event
of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the
Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction
inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such
proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of
this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any
premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed
herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and
interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth,
Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount
of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all
purposes, whether or not this Security be
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 21 -
overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
Section 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the
Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
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.
Section 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be in substantially
the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, As Trustee
By:
-----------------------------
Authorized Officer
ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303,
set forth, or determined in the
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 22 -
manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate, or established in one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any
series,
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall
distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other
series);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon
registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other
Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1106
and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are
deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);
(3) the Person to whom any interest on a 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;
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities
of the series is payable or the method by which such date shall be
determined and the right, if any, to shorten or extend the date on
which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable and the
conditions to any such change;
(5) the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series
shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates
shall be determined; the date or dates from which any such interest
shall accrue; the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest
shall be payable; the manner (if any) of determination of such Interest
Payment Dates; and the Regular Record Date, if any, for any such
interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;
(6) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods
and the terms of such extension or extensions;
(7) the place or places where the principal of and any premium
and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and
whether, if acceptable to the Trustee, any principal of such Securities
shall be payable without presentation or surrender thereof;
(8) the period or periods within which, or the date or dates
on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions
upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in
part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board
Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem
the Securities shall be evidenced;
(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or
purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund,
purchase fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder
thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at
which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the
series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to
such obligation;
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 23 -
(10) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the
series shall be issuable;
(11) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest
on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an
index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall
be determined;
(12) if other than the currency of the United States of
America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series
shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof
in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose,
including for purposes of the definition of "Outstanding" in Section
101;
(13) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any
Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the
Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency
units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to
be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the
principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which
such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and
the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the
amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be
determined);
(14) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the
portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which
shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 502;
(15) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of
any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or
more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be
deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such
date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal
amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other
than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as
of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the
manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be
determined);
(16) if either or both of Sections 1302 and 1303 do not apply
to any Securities of the series;
(17) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be
issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global
Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositary or Depositaries
for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which
shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of
that set forth in Section 204 and any circumstances in addition to or
in lieu of those set forth in Clause (2) of the last paragraph of
Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole
or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global
Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of
Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof;
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 24 -
(18) any addition, modification or deletion of any Events of
Default or covenants provided with respect to any Securities of the
series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite
Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due
and payable pursuant to Section 502;
(19) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in
Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series;
(20) the subordination of the Securities of such series to any
other indebtedness of the Company, including, without limitation, the
Securities of any other series; and
(21) any other terms of the series.
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical
except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant
to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set
forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers' Certificate
referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken
pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action
shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers'
Certificate setting forth the terms or the manner of determining the terms of
the series.
With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering,
the Board Resolution (or action taken pursuant thereto), Officers' Certificate
or supplemental indenture referred to above may provide general terms or
parameters for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific
terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company
Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company in accordance with
other procedures specified in a Company Order as contemplated by the third
paragraph of Section 303.
Notwithstanding Section 301(2) herein and unless otherwise expressly
provided with respect to a series of Securities, the aggregate principal amount
of a series of Securities may be increased and additional Securities of such
series may be issued up to the maximum aggregate principal amount authorized
with respect to such series as increased.
Section 302. Denominations.
The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in fully
registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be
specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified
denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of
such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof.
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of
its Vice Presidents.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 25 -
The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or
facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals
who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not
hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance
with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities, provided,
however, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in
accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the
receipt by the Trustee of oral or electronic instructions from the Company or
its duly authorized agents, promptly confirmed in writing) acceptable to the
Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the
Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such
series. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been
established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by
Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be
fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,
(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or
pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such
form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture;
(2) if the terms of such Securities have been, or in the case
of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, will be,
established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section
301, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of a
series offered in a Periodic Offering, will be, established in
conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case
of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any
conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and
(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any
conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid
and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in
accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles.
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be
required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner
which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 26 -
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding
paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one
time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise
required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel
otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the
authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered
at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security
of such series to be issued.
With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering,
the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such
Securities, the form and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding
effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other
documents delivered pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and this Section, as
applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such
series.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such
certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only
evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been
authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company,
and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as
provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall
be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall
never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 304. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the
Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten,
mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they
are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and
other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as
evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will
cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable
delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the
temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive
Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such
series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that
series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one
or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more
definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary
Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits
under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 27 -
Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other
office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes
referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration
of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed
"Security Registrar" for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of
Securities as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series
at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series,
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in
the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities
of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and
aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged
for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to
be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so
surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is
entitled to receive.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or
for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly
endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the
Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than
exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1106 not involving any transfer.
If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor)
are to be redeemed, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the
transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and
specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any
such Securities selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on
the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any
Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed
portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 28 -
The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only
to Global Securities:
(1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture
shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such
Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary
or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global
Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this
Indenture.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no
Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities
registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part
may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary
for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such
Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as Depositary for such Global Security and a successor
Depositary has not been appointed by the Company within 90 days of
receipt by the Company of such notification, (B) if at any time the
Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange
Act at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to
act as such Depositary and no successor Depositary shall have been
appointed by the Company within 90 days after it became aware of such
cessation, or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in
addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this
purpose as contemplated by Section 301. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Company may at any time in its sole discretion determine that
Securities issued in the form of a Global Security shall no longer be
represented in whole or in part by such Global Security, and the
Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order therefor, shall authenticate
and deliver definitive Securities in exchange in whole or in part for
such Global Security.
(3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange or transfer of a
Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part,
and all Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of a Global
Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as
the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.
(4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon
registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global
Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section,
Section 304, 306, 906 or 1106 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and
delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such
Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the
Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal
amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence
to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii)
such security or indemnity as
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 29 -
may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them
harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such
Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed,
lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and
principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has
become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may,
instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed,
lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with
any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the
extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable,
and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall
be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest.
Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, any interest on any Security of any series
which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease
to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of
having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company,
at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted
Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series
(or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the
close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such
Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The
Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted
Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the
date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate
amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or
shall
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 30 -
make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to
the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held
in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted
Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a
Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which
shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the
date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the
receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date
and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice
of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special
Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such
series in the manner set forth in Section 106, not less than 10 days
prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of
such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having
been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in
whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such
Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the
following Clause (2).
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on
the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any,
on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be
required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the
Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of
payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security
delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange
for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued
and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such
Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium
and (subject to Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the
Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.
Section 309. Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to
the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and
delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner
whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery
to the Trustee) for cancellation any
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 31 -
Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued
and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the
Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any
Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted
by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be
disposed of as directed by a Company Order; provided, however, that the Trustee
shall not be required to destroy such cancelled Securities.
Section 310. Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Section 311. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then
generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices
of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may
state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers
either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a
redemption 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.
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall upon Company Request 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
(1) either
(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and
delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been
destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid
as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose
payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or
segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter
repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as
provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation; or
(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation
(i) have become due and payable, or
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 32 -
(ii) will become due and payable at their
Stated Maturity within one year, or
(iii) are to be called for redemption within
one year under arrangements satisfactory to the
Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the
Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
Company,
and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust
funds in trust for the purpose (I) money in an amount, (II)
Government Obligations (as defined in Section 1304) which
through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in
respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide,
not later than the due date of any payment, money in an
amount, or (III) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the
case of (II) or (III), in the opinion of a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in
a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to
pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee
to pay and discharge, the entire indebtedness on such
Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to
the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have
become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or
Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums
payable hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of
the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of
this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last
paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.
Section 402. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 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 any premium and
interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 33 -
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
Section 501. Events of Default.
"Event of Default," wherever used herein with respect to Securities of
any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such
Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected
by operation of law or Article Fourteen or pursuant to any judgment, decree or
order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or
governmental body), unless it is inapplicable to a particular series or is
specifically deleted or modified in the Board Resolution (or action taken
pursuant thereto), Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture under which
such series of Securities is issued or has been deleted or modified in an
indenture supplemental hereto:
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security
of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such
default for a period of 60 days; provided, however, that if the Company
is permitted by the terms of the Securities of such series to defer the
payment in question, the date on which such payment is due and payable
shall be the date on which the Company is required to make payment
following such deferral, if such deferral has been elected pursuant to
the terms of the Securities; or
(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium
on any Security of that series at its Maturity; or
(3) default in the making of any sinking fund payment, when
and as due by the terms of a Security of that series, and continuance
of such default for a period of 60 days; or
(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant of
the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in whose
performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically
dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture
solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series),
and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after
there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company
by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at
least 33% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that
series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring
it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default"
hereunder, unless the Trustee, or the Trustee and the Holders of a
principal amount of Securities of such series not less than the
principal amount of Securities the Holders of which gave such notice,
as the case may be, shall agree in writing to an extension of such
period prior to its expiration; provided, however, that the Trustee, or
the Trustee and the Holders of such principal amount of Securities of
such series, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have agreed to an
extension of such period if corrective action is initiated by the
Company within such period and is being diligently pursued; or
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 34 -
(5) 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 90 consecutive
days; or
(6) 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 authorization of any such action by the
Board of Directors; or
(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to
Securities of that series.
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities 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 33% in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities
of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount
Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities 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.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Securities 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 hereinafter in this
Article provided, the Event of Default giving rise to such declaration of
acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such
declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have
been rescinded and annulled, if
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 35 -
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that
series,
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any
Securities 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 Securities,
(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is
lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee
hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and
counsel;
and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that
series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of
that series which have become due solely by such declaration of
acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if
(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any
Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default
continues for a period of 60 days, or
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or
premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,
the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the
Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such
Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that
payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue
principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by
such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual
to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 36 -
of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any
other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee
shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act
in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such
proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and
receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims
and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee,
liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the
Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such
payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 607.
No provision of this Indenture 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; provided,
however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election
of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors'
or other similar committee.
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities
may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and
any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name
as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the
ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such
judgment has been recovered.
Section 506. Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall,
subject (in the case of clauses Second and Third below) to the subordination
provisions hereof, be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed
by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of
principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and
the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender
thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under
Section 607;
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 37 -
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for
principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect
of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected,
ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the
amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any
premium and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the payment of the balance, if any, to the Company
or any other Person or Persons legally entitled thereto.
Section 507. Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to
institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture,
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the
Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities
of that series;
(2) the Holders of not less than a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made
written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of
such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred in compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice,
request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such
proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has
been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that
series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have
any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision
of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of
such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any
other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in
the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such
Holders.
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and
Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of
any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to
receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307)
interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such
Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall
not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 38 -
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce
any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to
the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any
determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall
be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and
thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue
as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment
of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of
Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee
or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and
every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and
in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any
right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities
to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair
any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or
an acquiescence therein.
Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee
or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be
deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 512. Control By Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the
Securities of such series; provided that
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of
law or with this Indenture,
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the
Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(3) subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee
shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the
Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of
the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve
the Trustee in personal liability.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 39 -
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all series with respect to which any default under the
Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing (voting as one class) may, on
behalf of the Holders of all Securities of all such series, waive such past
default under the Indenture and its consequences, except a default
(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any Security of such series, or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under
Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
Holder of each Outstanding Security of the series affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist and be deemed
not to have occurred, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed
to have been cured and not to have occurred, for every purpose of this
Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 514. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to
file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against
any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust
Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act
shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make
such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee.
Section 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that
it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim
or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted,
now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the
performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law
and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any
power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of
every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this
Indenture shall require the Trustee to
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 40 -
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its
rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided,
every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the
liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of this Section.
Section 602. Notice of Defaults.
If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series,
the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such
default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided,
however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section
501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders
shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the
purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or after
notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect
to Securities of such series.
Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 601:
(1) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent,
order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed
or presented by the proper party or parties;
(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein
shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order
or as otherwise expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the
Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board
Resolution;
(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the
Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established
prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may,
in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers'
Certificate;
(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and
the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance
thereon;
(5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request
or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless
such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 41 -
(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation
into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness
or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may
make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters
as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such
further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled, at reasonable
times previously notified to the Company, to examine the relevant
books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or
attorney; and
(7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or
through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible
for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney
appointed with due care by it hereunder.
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the
Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of
the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the
Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or
application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
Section 605. May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections
608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would
have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security
Registrar or such other agent.
Section 606. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be
under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company agrees
(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation
as shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the Trustee
for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not
be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust);
(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances incurred or
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 42 -
made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture
(including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence,
willful misconduct or bad faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence,
willful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against
any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance
of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
The Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property
and funds held by it hereunder for any amount owing it or any predecessor
Trustee pursuant to this Section 607, except with respect to funds held in trust
for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.
Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable
law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an
Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or Section 501(6), the expenses
(including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the
compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this
Indenture.
Section 608. Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the
meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such
interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to
the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent
permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting
interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to
Securities of more than one series.
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to the
Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one
or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant
to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus
of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at
least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent
permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such
Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in
its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee
with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in
the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 43 -
Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the
applicable requirements of Section 611.
The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of
one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall
not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series.
The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities
of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the
Company.
If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after
written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a
bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609
and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company
or by any such Holder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be
adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its
property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or
control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of
rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any
Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months
may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all
Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting,
or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect
to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution,
shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the
Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor
Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of
such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal
or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series
delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so
appointed shall, forthwith upon
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 44 -
its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable
requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee
appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and
accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has
been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months
may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of such series.
The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of
a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders
of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice
shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request
of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon
payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property
and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the
retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall
contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that
or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2)
if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall
contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm
that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with
respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring
Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
(3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or
in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the
same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts
hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by
any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental
indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 45 -
become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring
Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the
appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or
any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring
Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to
which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the
first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.
No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of
such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under
this Article.
Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business
of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such
corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article,
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated,
but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger,
conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such
authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect
as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against
the Company (or any such other obligor).
Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents acceptable to
the Company with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be
authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such
series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption
thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be
entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for
all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the
Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall be
deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of
the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be
acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof
or the District of Columbia, authorized under
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 46 -
such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus
of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by
Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said
supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the
combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be
its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating
Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in
this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or
corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an
Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible
under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate
the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such
Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of
resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating
Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such
appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders of Securities
of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any
successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.
No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the
provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant
to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in
addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
As Trustee
By:
----------------------------------------
As Authenticating Agent
By:
----------------------------------------
Authorized Officer
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 47 -
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
(1) 15 days after each Regular Record Date, a list, in such
form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses
of the Holders of Securities of each series as of such Regular Record
Date, and
(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a
list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days
prior to the time such list is furnished;
excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its
capacity as Security Registrar.
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and
addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to
their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding
rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust
Indenture Act.
Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees
with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any
disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to
the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 703. Reports by Trustee.
The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the
Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If
required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within
60 days after each __________ following the date of this Indenture,
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 48 -
deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such __________,which complies
with the provisions of such Section 313(a).
A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any
Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company
will promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock
exchange.
Section 704. Reports by Company.
The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and
transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such
summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the
times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such
information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the
Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER
Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms.
Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall
prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person
or Persons (whether or not affiliated with the Company), or successive
consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors
shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any conveyance or transfer of the
properties and assets of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an
entirety to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company)
lawfully entitled to acquire the same; provided, however, and the Company hereby
covenants and agrees, that upon any such consolidation, merger, conveyance or
transfer, (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if
any, and interest on all of the Securities, according to their tenor, and the
due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and
conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company, shall be expressly
assumed, by indenture supplemental hereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to
the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by the Person (if other than
the Company) formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have
been merged, or by the Person which shall have acquired such properties and
assets, and (ii) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer and, if a supplemental indenture is required in
connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this
Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such
transaction have been complied with.
Section 802. Successor Substituted.
Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company
into, any other Person or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and
assets of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in
accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 49 -
such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such
conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may
exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the
same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein,
and thereafter the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and
covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter
into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form reasonably satisfactory
to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the
Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of
the Company herein and in the Securities; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of
the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants
are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities,
stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the
benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein
conferred upon the Company; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default 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); or
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate
the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not
registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or
to facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or
(5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of
this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided
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 such Security Outstanding; or
(6) to secure the Securities; or
(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series
as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 50 -
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one
or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee,
pursuant to the requirements of Section 611; or
(9) subject to Section 907, to make any change in Article
Fourteen that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any
holder of Senior Indebtedness under such Article; or
(10) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to
matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that such
action pursuant to this Clause (10) shall not adversely affect the
interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material
respect.
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such
supplemental indenture (voting as one class), by Act of said Holders delivered
to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board
Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in
any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any
supplemental indenture, or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of
Securities under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental
indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security
affected thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the
principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium
payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the
principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security
which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of
the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or change the coin or
currency in which any Security or any premium or interest thereon is
payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of
any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the
case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is
required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose
Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain
provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their
consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513
or Section 1005, except to increase any such percentage or to provide
that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or
waived without the consent of the Holder of each
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 51 -
Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this
clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with
respect to changes in the references to "the Trustee" and concomitant
changes in this Section and Section 1005, or the deletion of this
proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and
901(8). A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any
covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been
included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of
Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities
of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall
be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders
of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article,
this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder
of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder
shall be bound thereby.
Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall
if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as
to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall
so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 52 -
Section 907. Subordination Unimpaired.
This Indenture may not be amended to alter the subordination of any of
the Outstanding Securities without the written consent of each holder of Senior
Indebtedness then outstanding that would be adversely affected thereby.
ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium
and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of
the Securities and this Indenture.
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of
Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented
or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture
may be served. The Company will 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, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent
to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series 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 each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such
purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such
designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other
office or agency.
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with
respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the
principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series,
segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a
sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due
until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein
provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to
act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any
series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of
or any premium or interest on
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 53 -
any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to
pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and
(unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the
Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities
other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in
which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions
of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the
continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the
Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the
Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in
respect of the Securities of that series.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or
by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in
trust hereunder by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the
Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the
Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the
Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with
respect to such money.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held
by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years
after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be
paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall
be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter,
as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof,
and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust
money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon
cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being
required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to
be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily
published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of
New York,
New York, notice that such money remains
unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than
30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money
then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee, on or before October 15 of
each calendar year or on or before such other day in each calendar year as the
Company and the Trustee may from time to time agree upon, an Officers'
Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof
the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of
grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be
in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of
which they may have knowledge.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 54 -
Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of
any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision
or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(19),
901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series if before the
time for such compliance the Holders of not less than a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such
Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive
compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall
extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so
expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations
of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term,
provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 1006. Calculation of Original Issue Discount.
The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly after the end of each
calendar year a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount
(including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Original
Issue Discount Securities as of the end of such year.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 1101. Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated
Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in
accordance with this Article.
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced
by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section
301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the
Company, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed
by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee),
notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of
Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the
Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior
to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of
such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election
of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such
Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee
with an Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or
condition.
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed
(unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be
redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 55 -
single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not
more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the
Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by
such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide
for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any
Security of such series; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal
amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not
be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less
than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be
redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular
Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the
Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series
and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the
preceding sentence.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in the case of any
Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed. The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not
apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether
such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such
redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the
Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than
the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate,
in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be
redeemed.
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in
the Security Register.All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date;
(2) the Redemption Price;
(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series
and of a specified tenor consisting of more than a single Security are
to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial
redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the
particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the
Outstanding Securities of any series and of a specified tenor
consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal
amount of the particular Security to be redeemed;
(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price, together
with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, will become due
and payable upon each such
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 56 -
Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will
cease to accrue on and after said date;
(5) the place or places where each such Security is to be
surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest,
if any, unless it shall have been specified as contemplated by Section
301 with respect to such Securities that such surrender shall not be
required;
(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the
case; and
(7) such other matters as the Company shall deem desirable or
appropriate.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities in accordance
with Section 301, with respect to any redemption of Securities at the election
of the Company, unless, upon the giving of notice of such redemption, Defeasance
shall have been effected with respect to such Securities pursuant to Section
1302, such notice may state that such redemption shall be conditional upon the
receipt by the Trustee or the Paying Agent(s) for such Securities, on or prior
to the date fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal
of and any premium and interest on such Securities and that if such money shall
not have been so received such notice shall be of no force or effect and the
Company shall not be required to redeem such Securities. In the event that such
notice of redemption contains such a condition and such money is not so
received, the redemption shall not be made and within a reasonable time
thereafter notice shall be given, in the manner in which the notice of
redemption was given, that such money was not so received and such redemption
was not required to be made, and the Trustee or Paying Agent(s) for the
Securities otherwise to have been redeemed shall promptly return to the Holders
thereof any of such Securities which had been surrendered for payment upon such
redemption.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of
the Company, and any notice of non-satisfaction of redemption as aforesaid,
shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in
the name and at the expense of the Company. Subject to the preceding paragraph,
any such notice of redemption shall be irrevocable.
Section 1105. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, and the
conditions, if any, set forth in such notice having been satisfied, the
Securities or portions thereof so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date,
become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and
after such date (unless, in the case of an unconditional notice of redemption,
the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued
interest, if any) such Securities or portions thereof, if interest-bearing,
shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption
in accordance with said notice, such Security or portion thereof shall be paid
by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any,
to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that no such surrender shall be a
condition to such payment if so specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to such Security, and provided further that, unless otherwise specified
as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity
is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 57 -
Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as
such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their
terms and the provisions of Section 307.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until
paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in
the Security.
Section 1106. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered
at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires,
due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney
duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service
charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of
any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Security so surrendered.
ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS
Section 1201. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of any Securities is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund
payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the
terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund
payment". If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any
sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202.
Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as
provided for by the terms of such Securities.
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other
than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit
Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the
Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of
permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such
Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund
payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made
pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by
the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited
have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be
received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price,
as
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 58 -
specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation
of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced
accordingly.
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such
Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to
Section 1202 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have
not been previously so credited and will also deliver to the Trustee any
Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking
fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon
such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause
notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense
of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been
duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and
in the manner stated in Sections 1105 and 1106.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 1301. Applicability of Article.
Unless, pursuant to Section 301, provision is made that either or both
of (a) defeasance of any Securities or any series of Securities under Section
1302 and (b) covenant defeasance of any Securities or any series of Securities
under Section 1303 shall not apply to such Securities of a series, then the
provisions of either or both of Sections 1302 and 1303, as the case may be,
together with Sections 1304 and 1305, shall be applicable to the Outstanding
Securities of such series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in
this Article.
Section 1302. Defeasance and Discharge.
The Company may cause itself to be discharged from its obligations with
respect to any Securities or any series of Securities on and after the date the
conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called
"Defeasance"). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be
deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such
Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities
and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at
the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the
same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated
or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to
receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully
set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any
premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company's
obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002
and 1003 and with respect to the Trustee under Section 607, (3) the rights,
powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this
Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, Defeasance with respect to any
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 59 -
Securities or any series of Securities by the Company is permitted under this
Section 1302 notwithstanding the prior exercise by the Company of its rights
under Section 1303 with respect to such Securities. Following a Defeasance,
payment of such Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of
Default.
Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may cause itself to be released from its obligations under
any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(19), 901(2), 901(6) or 901(7)
with respect to any Securities or any series of Securities for the benefit of
the Holders of such Securities and the occurrence of any event specified in
Sections 501(4) (with respect to any such covenants provided pursuant to Section
301(19), 901(2), 901(6) or 901(7)) or 501(7) shall be deemed not to be or result
in an Event of Default with respect to such Securities as provided in this
Section, in each case on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section
1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called "Covenant Defeasance"). For this purpose,
such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the
Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any
term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the
extent so specified in the case of Section 501(4)), whether directly or
indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by
reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in
any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities
shall be unaffected thereby.
Section 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section
1302 or Section 1303 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case
may be:
(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to
be deposited 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,
(A) money in an amount, or (B) Government Obligations which through the
scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in
accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date
of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof,
sufficient, in the case of (B) or (C), in the opinion of a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a
written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and
discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee to pay and
discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such
Securities on the respective Stated Maturities or on any Redemption
Date established pursuant to Clause (3) below, in accordance with the
terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein,
"Government Obligation" means (x) any security which is (i) a direct
obligation of the United States of America or the government which
issued the foreign currency in which such Securities are payable, for
the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) an
obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an
agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such
government which issued the foreign currency in which such Securities
are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a
full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or
such other government, which, in either
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 60 -
case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the
issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as
defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with
respect to any Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x)
above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such
depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of
principal of or interest on any Government Obligation which is so
specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such
custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount
payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount
received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or
the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such
depositary receipt.
(2) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or
both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities
or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the
time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in
Sections 501(5) and (6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after
the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall
not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).
(3) If the Securities are to be redeemed prior to Stated
Maturity (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous
payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given
pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the
Trustee shall have been made.
(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance have been complied with.
Section 1305. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust;
Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money and Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with
the Trustee pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of any Securities shall be held
in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such
Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any
such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to
become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but
money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited
pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in respect
thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the
account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.
Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any
money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with
respect to any Securities which, in the
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 61 -
opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in
excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to
effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect
to such Securities.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
SUBORDINATION
Section 1401. Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for any
series of Securities, the Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a
Security, by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the
indebtedness represented by the Securities of any series and the payment of the
principal of and any premium or interest on each and all of the Securities of
each series is subordinate, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set
forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness. Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and
entitled to the benefits of these subordination provisions irrespective of any
amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Senior Indebtedness or
extension or renewal of the Senior Indebtedness.
In the event (a) of any payment by, or distribution of assets of, the
Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to
creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the
Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or other proceedings, or (b) subject to the provisions of Section
1402 that (i) a default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to
the payment of principal, interest or any other monetary amounts due and payable
on any Senior Indebtedness and such default shall have continued beyond the
period of grace, if any, specified in the instrument evidencing such Senior
Indebtedness (and the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from
the Company or one or more holders of Senior Indebtedness or their
representative or representatives or the trustee or trustees under any indenture
pursuant to which any such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued), or (ii)
the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness shall have been accelerated because of a
default in respect of such Senior Indebtedness (and the Trustee shall have
received written notice thereof from the Company or one or more holders of
Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or the trustee or
trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such Senior Indebtedness may
have been issued), then:
(i) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be
entitled to receive, in the case of (a) above, payment of all amounts
due or to become due upon all Senior Indebtedness and, in the case of
subclauses (i) and (ii) of clause (b) above, payment of all amounts due
thereon, or provision shall be made for such payment in money or
money's worth, before the Holders of any of the Securities are entitled
to receive any payment on account of the principal of or any premium or
interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, including,
without limitation, any payments made pursuant to Article Eleven or
Article Twelve;
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 62 -
(ii) any payment by, or distribution of assets of, the Company
of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to
which the Holders of any of the Securities would be entitled except for
the provisions of this Article, including any such payment or
distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the
payment of any other indebtedness of the Company being subordinated to
the payment of such Securities, shall be paid or delivered by the
Person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in
bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or
representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under
which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may
have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining
unpaid on account of such Senior Indebtedness held or represented by
each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid after giving effect to any concurrent
payment or distribution (or provision therefor) to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the
Holders of the indebtedness evidenced by such Securities; and
(iii) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any
payment by, or distribution of assets of, the Company of any kind or
character, whether in cash, property or securities, including any such
payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason
of the payment of any other indebtedness of the Company being
subordinated to the payment of such Securities, in respect of principal
of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities or in connection
with the repurchase by the Company of any of the Securities, shall be
received by the Trustee or the Holders of any of the Securities when
such payment or distribution is prohibited pursuant to this Section,
such payment or distribution shall be paid over to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to
the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any
instruments evidencing any such Senior Indebtedness may have been
issued, ratably as aforesaid, for application to the payment of all
Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness
shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent
payment or distribution (or provision therefor) to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the 90th day following
the date of deposit of money or Government Obligations pursuant to Section 1304
(provided all other conditions set out in such Section shall have been
satisfied) the funds so deposited and any interest thereon will not be subject
to any rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness including, without limitation,
those arising under this Article.
For purposes of this Article Fourteen, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other Person
provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which
is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article with respect to
the Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness which may at the time
be outstanding; provided that (i) the indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness,
as the case may be, that constitutes Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the
Person, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii)
the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not, without the
consent of each such holder adversely affected thereby, altered by such
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 63 -
reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the
merger of the Company into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of
the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety,
or substantially as an entirety, to another Person upon the terms and conditions
provided for in Article Eight hereof shall not be deemed a dissolution,
winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if
such other Person shall, as part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or
transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article Eight hereof.
Section 1402. Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior Indebtedness.
Any failure by the Company to make any payment on or perform any other
obligation under Senior Indebtedness, other than any indebtedness incurred by
the Company or assumed or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the Company for
money borrowed (or any deferral, renewal, extension or refunding thereof) or any
indebtedness or obligation as to which the provisions of this Section shall have
been waived by the Company in the instrument or instruments by which the Company
incurred, assumed, guaranteed or otherwise created such indebtedness or
obligation, shall not be deemed a default or event of default under Section
1401(b) if (i) the Company shall be disputing its obligation to make such
payment or perform such obligation and (ii) either (A) no final judgment
relating to such dispute shall have been issued against the Company which is in
full force and effect and is not subject to further review, including a judgment
that has become final by reason of the expiration of the time within which a
party may seek further appeal or review, and (B) in the event of a judgment that
is subject to further review or appeal has been issued, the Company shall in
good faith be prosecuting an appeal or other proceeding for review and a stay of
execution shall have been obtained pending such appeal or review.
Section 1403. Subrogation.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders
of the Securities shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with the holders of
all obligations of the Company which by their express terms are subordinated to
Senior Indebtedness of the Company to the same extent as the Securities are
subordinated and which are entitled to like rights of subrogation) to the rights
of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of
cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior
Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Securities shall be paid in full,
and as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of such Senior
Indebtedness and the Holders, no such payment or distribution made to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness by virtue of this Article that otherwise would
have been made to the Holders shall be deemed to be a payment by the Company on
account of such Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of
this Article are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the
relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, on the other hand.
Section 1404. Obligation of Company Unconditional.
Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in
the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its
creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders, the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 64 -
unconditional, to pay to the Holders the principal of and any premium or
interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in
accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative
rights of the Holders and creditors of the Company other than the holders of
Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or
any Holder from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law
upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this
Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or
securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
Upon payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in
this Article, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any
order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which any such
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceeding affecting the
affairs of the Company is pending or upon a certificate of the trustee in
bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidating trustee
or agent or other person making any payment or distribution, delivered to the
Trustee or to the Holders, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled
to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or
payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other
facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.
The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a
written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior
Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) to
establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or
a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the
event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is
required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior
Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this
Article, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness
held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate
in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of
such Person under this Article, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the
Trustee may defer payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to
the right of such Person to receive such payment.
Section 1405. Payments on Securities Permitted.
Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in
the Securities shall affect the obligations of the Company to make, or prevent
the Company from making, payment of the principal of or any premium or interest
on the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof, except
as otherwise provided in this Article.
Section 1406. Effectuation of Subordination by Trustee.
Each Holder of Securities, by his acceptance thereof, authorizes and
directs the Trustee in his, her or its behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this
Article and appoints the Trustee his, her or its attorney-in-fact, as the case
may be, for any and all such purposes.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 65 -
Section 1407. Knowledge of Trustee.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact
known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to
or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of
this Article. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other
provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of
the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of
moneys to or by the Trustee, or the taking of any other action by the Trustee,
unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof mailed
or delivered to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office from the Company, any
Holder, any paying agent or the holder or representative of any Senior
Indebtedness; provided that if at least two Business Days prior to the date upon
which by the terms hereof any such moneys may become payable for any purpose
(including, without limitation, the payment of the principal or any premium or
interest on any Security) the Trustee shall not have received with respect to
such moneys the notice provided for in this Section, then, anything herein
contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and
authority to receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which
they were received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that
may be received by it within two Business Days prior to or on or after such
date.
Section 1408. Trustee May Hold Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the
rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Indebtedness at the
time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness,
and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as
such holder.
Section 1409. Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired.
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to
enforce the subordination herein shall at any time or in any way be prejudiced
or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any
noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this
Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or
be otherwise charged with.
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, (i) the duties and
obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions
of this Indenture; (ii) the Trustee shall not be liable except for the
performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Indenture; (iii) no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee; and (iv) the Trustee shall not be deemed to be a
fiduciary as to such holders.
Section 1410. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments
from money or Government Obligations held in trust under Article Four or Article
Thirteen by the Trustee for the payment of principal of and any premium or
interest on the Securities of any series shall not be subordinated to the prior
payment of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company or subject to the restrictions
set forth in this Article and none of the Holders shall be obligated to pay over
any
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 66 -
such amount to the Company or any holder of Senior Indebtedness or any other
creditor of the Company.
Section 1411. Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
In case at any time any paying agent other than the Trustee shall have
been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee"
as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context shall otherwise
require) be construed as extending to and including such paying agent within its
meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such paying agent were named
in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however,
that Sections 1407 and 1408 shall not apply to the Company if it acts as its own
paying agent.
Section 1412. Trustee; Compensation Not Prejudiced.
Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the
Trustee pursuant to Section 607.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 1501. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.
No recourse for the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect
thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of
the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any
Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby,
shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as
such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation,
either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by
virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such
liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a
consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the
Securities.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 67 -
In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
By:
-----------------------------
Attest:
---------------------------
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Trustee
By:
-----------------------------
Attest:
---------------------------
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
- 68 -
